As always, thanks to my beta lislar for everything she does to make sure my story is the best it can be. Thanks for m81170 for the pre-reading in the middle of the night when I was having a major freak-out. Thanks to the lovely Aussie ladies that allowed me to be a part of their WC this week. And thanks to all of my reviewers. I really appreciate all the love!

Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight.

Chapter 11: You Have Made My Life Complete

Bella groaned and pulled the quilt over her head. Above her, she could hear the loud sounds of shuffling and banging, boxes being scooted across the attic floor. It was before seven am on a Tuesday morning and she wondered what could be so important. Why was Charlie in the attic?

Dragging herself from bed, she waddled out into the hallway, her protruding stomach leading the way. Stopping at the folding stairs hanging down from the ceiling, she called out to her father.

"Dad?" she yelled up into the opening. Moments later, Charlie's dust-covered face peeked over the edge. There were cobwebs in his hair and drops of sweat dripped from his brow.

"Did I wake you? Sorry," he replied with a sheepish grin.

"What are you doing?"

"Uh—just looking for some…stuff."

Bella continued to stare, waiting for him to elaborate. When she realized he had nothing else to say, she huffed and rolled her eyes.

"O-kay," she replied, dragging the word out into two syllables. Before she could offer more questions, Charlie disappeared once again, effectively ending their short conversation.

Turning towards the stairs, Bella headed to the kitchen. Her stomach grumbled loudly as she felt the baby shift and move. "I know, baby," she said to herself as she rubbed the spot where the baby was currently resting.

In the kitchen, Sue was already seated, enjoying her breakfast. Bella sat down beside her, grabbing an over-sized muffin from the basket at the center of the table.

"How are you doing this morning?" Sue asked.

"Hungry…and tired. The baby was moving around a lot and I couldn't get comfortable, not with this huge stomach in the way. I swear I got up to go to the bathroom at least five times. And then, when I finally start to fall asleep, Charlie is up in the attic banging around. What is he doing, anyway?"

"Oh, I think he said something about some camping gear. He's going fishing this weekend with some of his buddies—Dr. Cullen, Billy Black, and a few of the younger guys from the station. You know, always trying to suck up to the Chief," she replied with a laugh.

"That couldn't wait until later, when I wasn't trying to sleep?" Bella's outburst only caused Sue to chuckle louder. The pregnancy hormones had really started to get to her lately, making her irritated and annoyed. One minute she'd be furious with anger, crying in sadness the next. She hated having so little control over her emotions.

"Did you make a decision about graduation?"

"Yeah, I've decided not to walk through. I feel so uncomfortable already and I don't need to add to that. I can't stand the idea of all those people staring at me. Charlie said we could just go to dinner in Port Angeles or something that evening."

"As long as you're sure."

"Definitely."

After finishing up her breakfast, Bella showered and dressed for the day, pulling on some gently-used maternity clothes she'd purchased at a local consignment store. She'd never been one to care too much about her clothes; it seemed pointless to spend a lot of money on garments that she'd only be able to wear for a couple of months. She slipped on a pair of ballet flats, practically the only shoes she wore anymore. They were really the only option because she couldn't see her feet and definitely couldn't tie laces.

When she deemed herself ready for the day, she made her way back down the stairs to meet Sue. They were headed into Port Angeles for the day to attempt to find some more items on the list they'd made together—a list of things Bella would need for the baby. There were so many things to purchase and their budget was rather tight. A few things had been purchased new, but they'd been able to find a lot of the larger items at a local church thrift store for much cheaper prices.

It pained Bella when she thought about her baby coming home from the hospital in a used car seat, being put to sleep in a secondhand bassinet. Even some of the clothes and blankets she'd purchased were used. Bella had wanted nothing but the best for her baby, but she was already failing at that, before her son was even born.

Charlie had moved the furniture in her bedroom around, bringing in a small dresser that went with her furniture set, but that she hadn't really had room for. With the baby coming, however, she needed some place to put all of his things. Some of the clothes and blankets had been washed and placed inside, but many things were still in laundry baskets, waiting for a home. To make room for the used bassinet that Bella had purchased, her desk had to be taken out of the room and moved into storage.

Bella hadn't purchased a crib yet, still trying to locate a sturdy one at a decent price. She assumed she had some time left, even after the baby was born. She had the bassinet and he could sleep in it for a while. Bella knew she'd want him in the room with her for at least his first few months; she couldn't imagine how they were going to cram a crib into her room once the time came. Her bookshelves would probably have to go.

~ O ~

The trip into Port Angeles turned out to be a fruitless endeavor, but Bella enjoyed getting out of the house and spending some time Sue. As she moved further along in her pregnancy, she'd become less and less motivated to leave the confines of her cozy, little home. Most of her time was spent on the couch, watching Days of Our Lives and Maury. She found both shows to be unintentionally hilarious.

As they pulled into the driveway that evening, Charlie met them at the door. He seemed nervous and his actions were more than a little odd. He'd even ordered food from the diner; Bella smiled when she opened up the Styrofoam box to find a big, greasy, bacon cheeseburger waiting for her. He kept staring at Bella with a pained look on his face, making her wonder if she was grossing him out as she shoved ketchup-covered French fries into her mouth.

Once Bella had devoured her entire meal, including a piece of berry cobbler, Charlie loudly cleared his throat.

"Um…Bella, there's something I need to show you."

Confused, she stood and followed Charlie through the kitchen, to the small room off from the living room. The room was probably designed to be an office, much too small to really use as a bedroom. Bella had been in the room only a handful of times since she'd moved in with Charlie. She recalled that there had been an old twin-sized bed inside, boxes of miscellaneous junk, and a treadmill collecting dust. When he opened the door, Bella gasped.

Tears pricked her eyes as she walked inside, running her hand along the edge of a freshly-painted crib. All of the thrift store furniture she'd purchased had been painted white, making it look much less like a hodge podge of cheap things and more like a proper furniture set. The walls were painted a pale, calming blue. The bedding inside the crib was simple—plain white sheets with a handmade quilt.

The quilt was baseball themed, and as Bella looked around, she saw that the entire room was decorated to match. There was a Mariners pennant on the wall, framed baseball cards, and even a picture of a Bella playing tee-ball at the age of four—her first and only foray into the game. Old wooden bats hung from a shelf, with a baseball and worn-in glove resting atop it. A photo frame—Little Slugger—showed Bella's latest ultrasound picture. An oversized rocking chair was placed in the corner, near the window.

"What—How did you…" she trailed off, unable to complete her thought.

"The crib was actually yours when you were a baby. It's been up in the attic all these years—that and the rocking chair. It belonged to your grandma Marie. She gave it to us right after you were born. I used to sit in it and rock you to sleep. Sue made the bedding and the curtains."

"And I'm sure the baseball theme was your idea," Bella giggled through her tears.

"At least I didn't go with his first choice," Sue piped in.

"Fishing," both women stated at the same time, bursting into laughter.

Bella hugged Charlie and Sue, thanking them for the beautiful room they'd given her son.

~ O ~

When the date for Forks High School's graduation ceremony arrived, Bella felt uneasy. Though she had no desire to walk across the stage in front of all of those people, she was still upset about missing out on the chance to receive her diploma, to wear her cap and gown and be recognized for her achievement. There would be no fanfare, however; Bella's diploma would arrive in the mail.

She could imagine Charlie and Sue sitting in the crowd, beaming with pride. If things were different, there would be a graduation party afterwards, a small gathering of friends and family at Charlie's house, or maybe even the diner. There would be talk about college in the fall, plans for a summer job. Instead, Bella found herself alone in her bedroom, trying to squeeze herself into the only maternity dress she owned, not to go to her graduation, but to have dinner with her family in Port Angeles.

Missing graduation was just another item on a long list of things she'd had to miss—homecoming, dates, the prom. Unlike other teens, she couldn't just run off to the mall on a Saturday morning with her friends, or go to a movie on a Friday night. Though she was only eighteen, Bella hadn't felt like a teenager in a very long time.

~ O ~

Only two weeks after she would have walked across the graduation stage, Bella was jolted awake by painful cramps in her lower back, as if someone was trying to saw her in half. At first she was scared, worried that there was something wrong with the baby. But as she moved to wake up Charlie and Sue, she realized that her pajama bottoms were wet. Her water had broken.

Trying to remain calm, she knocked loudly on Charlie and Sue's bedroom door. When they yelled for her to come in, she opened the door and told them she was in labor. Charlie burst from the bed in seconds, hastily running around, looking for his jacket and car keys. Sue was much more subdued, reminding Charlie to calm down; there was plenty of time to get to the hospital.

After taking time for everyone to get dressed and to grab Bella's pre-packed hospital bag, they loaded into the car for the drive to the hospital in Port Angeles. Though it seemed entirely unnecessary, Charlie insisted on carrying Bella from the house to the car, worried that she might have a contraction and fall. He also insisted on taking the cruiser, flipping on his lights and siren as he sped down the highway.

Once they arrived at the hospital, Bella was quickly wheeled into the labor and delivery unit. She was given the corner birthing suite, a tiny room that barely allowed room for Charlie and Sue to wait inside with her. Dr. Weber arrived shortly after Bella did, examining her and determining that she was definitely in labor, though only dilated a few centimeters.

The minutes seemed to tick by, punctuated by Bella's contractions. She tried to tolerate the pain, not wanting to be overly dramatic, but as the contractions came closer together, the pain that went with them only intensified. Even with her aversion to needles and blood, she happily accepted the epidural injection into her spine. While it did not completely alleviate her pain, it definitely made things much more tolerable.

Charlie spent most of his time in the hallway, frantically pacing as he clutched a cup of coffee. Though he was excited at the prospect of being a grandfather, it was difficult for him to see his young daughter in so much pain. Sue proved to be the calm and collected one in the situation, standing by Bella's side, clutching her hand and helping her to breathe through her contractions.

Finally, after nearly twelve hours of waiting, Bella gave birth to a healthy baby boy—Benjamin Charles Swan. As his loud cries permeated the air in the tiny room, Bella felt the tears well up in her eyes. And when the nurse handed him to her for the very first time, she thought there was nothing more beautiful than her son.

His skin was red and blotchy, covered in icky goo, with a patch dark hair at his crown. With her forefinger, she traced his tiny lips, nose, and ears, marveling at the tiny person she'd helped to create. She counted ten tiny fingers and ten little toes. Everything that she'd gone through in the previous months was worth it for that moment. Bella felt a pang in her chest when the nurse took Ben away to clean him up and get his weight and measurements.

When all was clear, Charlie re-entered Bella's room, anxious to make sure that she was okay. He was greeted by a blinding smile, Bella's entire face lit up with happiness. She hugged her father tightly, hoping to convey all of the emotions she felt. He hugged her with equal fervor, whispering that she would always be his little girl.

~ O ~

The day after Bella gave birth, her room was entered by a short, balding man with a greasy comb-over, wearing a too-small polyester suit. He stared at Bella with dark, beady eyes, making her uncomfortable. She clutched Ben more tightly to her chest, wondering what this man wanted from her. Bella breathed a sigh of relief as Charlie made his way back into the room from a coffee run, instantly on alert.

"Miss Swan, I presume," he rasped in a nasally voice. "I'm an attorney representing the Harris family."

Bella tuned him out as he continued to speak, knowing exactly why he was there—to sever all ties between James and his son. Before Renee had sent Bella off to Forks, she had mentioned that the he planned to surrender his parental rights. She felt uneasy, knowing that someone had been keeping tabs on her so closely, passing along the information of Ben's birth so quickly.

Conflicting emotions radiated through Bella as she considered her options. Part of her didn't want to sign the paperwork, didn't want to allow James to shirk out on his responsibility to his child, even if it was a responsibility he didn't want. But she also knew that if she signed, the Harris family would have no legal right to her son. James would never be able to come back into her life and try to take her baby away.

Though she was resolved to sign the papers, Charlie didn't trust the lawyer or the family he represented. He called in a favor and had a local lawyer come to the hospital to look everything over. Once that attorney explained everything and assured him that there was nothing shady going on, Bella signed the papers, effectively severing any ties she had to James.

~ O ~

Three months later…

"Bella, can you get table nine and then you can head out?" Rosalie yelled across the diner.

Bella simply nodded her head and moved towards the offending table, a pot of coffee in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other. Her shift was supposed to have been completed over an hour ago, but the diner had gotten slammed early for the dinner rush and she was forced to stay late. She sighed as she thought about Ben, at home with Sue and Charlie. She missed him terribly while she was at work, but she felt a little better knowing that he was in good hands.

The place was nearly filled to capacity and bustling with activity. It was hard for Bella to concentrate on where she was going and what she was doing because of all the noise—the low buzz of diners enjoying lively conversation with their tablemates, the sizzle of meat on the open grill, the cook calling out orders, cutlery moving and scraping across dinnerware, and the dulcet tones of Elvis Presley crooning Love Me Tender from the vintage jukebox.

There weren't many dining establishments in Forks, but Rosie's Diner was one of the oldest and most popular. The menu boasted typical diner fare; most folks came for the classic cheeseburger, fries, and a hand-dipped milkshake. The daily blue plate specials were also a favorite, though Bella found the smell of the tuna melt to be rather off-putting. The restaurant had become a Forks institution when it opened in the late 1940s. It was originally owned by Lillian and William Hale, named for Lillian's late mother, Rosalie. The diner had been passed down through the family, now under the ownership of Lillian's granddaughter, also named Rosalie, and her husband, Emmett McCarty. When they had taken over, they had transformed the simple, small town diner into a throwback to the 50s. Since then business had increased dramatically.

The interior of the cramped dining car was exactly as one would expect it to be. The floors were tiled in a checkerboard fashion, with shiny black and white tiles that glistened under the harsh fluorescent lighting. The same black and white pattern ran in a stripe along the walls. The booth seats were covered in a glittery, red plastic; the same fabric covered the stools around the bar. A vintage jukebox stood proudly in the corner and the walls were interspersed with advertisements from that time period. There were also pictures of Rosalie's family and the diner through the years. Everything worked together to create a unique atmosphere that the townsfolk seemed to enjoy.

Bella had only been working at the retro diner for two weeks. Though it was hard to leave her son behind, the hours were good and the pay was decent. She was considered part-time, only working shifts a couple of days per week. That made things easier. It left her plenty of time with Ben while still being able to put some cash in her pocket. She felt guilty about all the money Charlie had spent both before Ben was born and after. There was just so much a baby needed—from clothes and shoes to formula and diapers. She was even more embarrassed when she had to ask Charlie for money to buy things for herself, simple items like deodorant, razors, and shampoo.

The uniform for the diner was a bit silly, like a little girl playing dress-up: a blue and black dress, frilly white apron, ruffled bobby socks, black Mary Janes, and a little hat. Bella had grown fairly comfortable and confident in her job duties, even becoming friendly with her regular customers. Charlie was her best tipper. He and the guys from the police department came in at least a couple of times a week for lunch. Their presence always put a smile on Bella's face.

Most of the girls Bella worked with were friendly and helpful, but there were a couple that gave her pitied looks or simply seemed annoyed by her presence. She just tried to steer clear of them and do her job, hoping that she'd never give Rosalie or Emmett reason to fire her. As meager as her wages were, she simply needed the income.

The sheer physical labor of the job wasn't something Bella thought she'd ever get used to. Today was no exception, especially since she had exceeded her normal shift. Her feet hurt, her calves burned, and her shoulders ached. Who knew carrying around a pot of coffee and hefting trays of food could be so exhausting! Her uniform was riddled with stains and greasy spots. Her ponytail was falling down, limp from the humid atmosphere inside the diner. A few strands had escaped and were matted to both her forehead and neck, full of sweat and grease. The smell of burned hamburger meat lingered on her skin and clothes. She felt disgusting, hoping that once she got home, she'd get to have a nice, long soak in a hot bath.

As she made her way towards table nine, she was thinking about how soothing the warm water would be on her aching muscles, imaging the strawberry scent of her favorite bubble bath, and definitely not paying close enough attention to where she was going. She was pulled from her reverie with a loud oomph as she ran straight into something hard. From that point on everything happened in slow motion. Bella managed to move the hand that held the coffee pot out of the way, but the water pitcher wasn't so lucky. It slipped from her hands, the plastic making a loud sound as it clanked and skidded against the checkerboard tile floor. The force of the collision threw icy cold water down the front of Bella's uniform...and all over the man she'd just ran into.

AN: Do you want to kill me? Reviewers get a teaser of the next chapter. Not sure what I'll be sending out yet, but I know it'll be from Edward's POV. =)