Chapter 5: Fathers and Daughters

~Bella~

The fact that Charlie had taken what Edward and I told him about the transformation so calmly was a relief and a surprise. It made me feel bad for all the times we hadn't told him the truth, but thinking back on it, until now we really hadn't had much of a choice in the matter. Charlie was in danger now that he knew, though the fact that he was on one side of the country and us on the other made things a little less risky for him. After another wonderful dinner prepared by my husband, my father asked me to go on a walk with him leaving Edward and the kids back at the beach house. We had been walking quietly for a while side by side when he stopped and took in a deep breath. "Dad?"

"You really are sure about this?" Charlie asked as he turned to face him.

"Yes. I don't have any doubts about this life."

"And you've thought about what its going to be like when no one you know now will be around?" Charlie folded his arms in front of his chest and I didn't look away from him.

"It won't be easy, but I know that eventually everyone will die but me, yes," I said feeling my throat tighten just a little.

My father looked down at the sandy ground sighing, "I just wish there was a way for me to keep you safe. There is so much I missed, and so much I feel like I should be making up with you before you do this."

"What do you want to do? We have three more days together and if you wanted to spend time alone with me then I'm sure we could manage that."

Charlie looked back up at me sighing again. "I know your not much for fishing, but I think it would be interesting to try something, maybe just from the beach."

My father was right, I wasn't much for fishing but considering that he was the one about to lose a part of me, I was willing to appease him and maybe have some fun. "We could see if Edward knows of anything out of Rio, maybe some sort of deep sea fishing excursion they do."

Slowly, a smile began to spread across Charlie's lips and I couldn't help but smile too. After that I listened as he talked about a few of the more recent trips he had taken with Billy and Seth. It didn't slip past me that he wasn't saying anything about Jacob and I was glad.

When we got back to the house it was dark and quiet. I left Charlie in the family room walking quietly to the door to my room, slipping inside without too much noise. Edward was standing by the sliding door, the moon light washing over his pale form as he swayed with our son. For a second I couldn't remember what I wanted to talk to him about. Watching him take care of our children was one of my favorite things. He rarely lost his patience and had slipped into the role of parent much more easily than I had at first. I walked silently to the crib looking down at our daughter as she slept. Gently I moved her soft bronze curls away from her face stroking her cheek lost in my thoughts. It was only when I felt Edward's cool lips against my left cheek and his arms wrapping around my waist that I remembered what I wanted to talk about. Taking his hand I led him over to the door before leaning my body against his, resting my cheek against his chest. "Charlie wants to try some deep sea fishing, and I'm brave enough to try and go along with that. What do you think?" I looked up at him finding his eyes gazing back down at me.

Edward cupped his hands on my cheeks rubbing the pad of his thumbs over my lips. "I would worry, having you away from me, but I also understand his need to spent time with you alone. I know of a few reliable companies that allow half day or all day fishing and can set that up if that is what you would like."

"Hmm, what I would like is for you not to worry about me. I think this will be good for both of us, as long as I don't fall in to the water." I had hoped to make Edward laugh, but he was watching me with a very serious expression etched on his face. "I was joking."

"But I know how you are, Bella," he answered smirking at me right before his lips were pressing demanding against my own.

The next morning after we had a big breakfast, Edward and I packed things for my trip with Charlie while Grandah watched after the kids on the beach. "Exactly what did you do to get us taken care of so fast?" I asked while getting dressed.

"It's all a matter of how you present yourself," my husband stated as he gave me a kiss. Since it was a sunny day he had arranged for someone to come out to the Island to get us, someone who had dealt with their family before. As he held me, I could feel the slight tension in his arms and knew he wasn't comfortable about letting us go on our own. "Try not to worry," I said as he brushed his lips over mine.

"Only if you promise not to get too close to the edge of the boat."

Before I could protest his lips were back on mine and I forgot about anything other than his touch.

~Edward~

Agreeing that my wife and Charlie should go on the fishing trip had been one of the more difficult decisions I had made. I couldn't tell her what she could or couldn't do and the fact that she had asked how I felt made me realize just how much she needed this time away. It was hard not to be overprotective of her just because I knew how accident prone my wife was. A small sand covered hand touching my cheek followed by the image of my own face furrowed in focused thought drew me out of my worries. "I was missing your mother," I said as I gave my daughter a hug. Renesmee had not been happy about being left out and had cried sorrowfully for quiet a while before we came out to play in the sand. Another image of us in the water filled my mind and I glanced over at Anthony. My son was asleep in the tent and even though I knew he was safe, I was still weary leaving him to go down to the water.

"Why don't we work on another sandcastle."

"Want to swim, Daddy," Renesmee answered tugging on my hand.

It was only twenty steps to the water, and if Anthony stirred I could be by his side in a blink. "Alright, but when I tell you we have to come back up here I expect you not to cry or disagree."

My daughter nodded once and as I got up she tried letting go of my hand. "You can go down there ahead of me but don't get to far in the water." Once she was free of me, Renesmee made it to the waters edge faster than a normal child of two would have. I arrived behind her just as her feet were getting wet and quickly had her in my arms as I carried her out into the deeper waters.

"Let go, I swim by self," my little girl demanded. I turned her from being cradled in my arms to her belly and once she was ready I did let go watching as she kicked and moved her arms with her head and face under the water. Before she could sink any further I reached out and steadied her, holding her as she came up for air. "You like this don't you?"

"Yes, I want be a fish," she said breathing heavily. Once Renesmee had caught her breath, she was ready to go again. As I let her go, I considered what it would take for us to build a pool for her, and decided against that. For a time I would be focused on all of my family, at least until Bella adjusted to the huge change in her life that she was going to undertake. After the forth time of needing to come up for a breath, I heard Anthony beginning to stir and lifted Renesmee against my chest. "We need to go check on your brother."

"One more time," she said struggling to be away.

"How about if I hold on to you and let you swim back?"

There was no thought needed and once she was ready I held one arm securely around my little girl while she kicked her legs and dipped her face back in the water. When we were close enough I righted her making sure she could stand as we walked on to dry sandy land.

"We go back with Antony?" Renesmee asked as she grasped on to my hand.

"We'll try," I answered.

We arrived back at the blanket and small tent just as my son began to fuss, though I had him in my arms before he could make too much noise. As I sat down under the umbrella, Renesmee got on her knees in front of us already wiping her face on her little pink towel. "Antony you swim. I show you how and you love it like me," Renesmee told her brother. He looked at her and a second later he was smiling. Bella had been working on getting him to smile at her, but so far she hadn't had much luck.

"Him like me, Daddy. I play sand now." As she did that, I checked Anthony's diaper before getting out a bottle for him to drink. My thoughts were already on Bella wondering if she was having any fun.

~Bella~

After nearly losing my fishing pole and having my line snap while trying to reel in a fish, I made the decision to let Charlie have the fun while I sat back and watched. For the most part the captain of our small yacht left us alone fishing from the other end. My Dad's knowledge of fishing was greater than I thought and he needed very little help. "So are you sure you've never done anything like this before?"

"Nope, just fishing with Billy and Harry for a long time, well you remember."

"Yeah. I remember having fits about having to go until you finally agreed I could stay and hang out with Rebecca and Rachel." I had tried to resist bringing them up for fear Charlie would probe in to why I didn't talk to Jacob as much.

"You girls never really got to know much of each other. Every time Billy and I would come back you would be on the porch reading or in that little sitting room of theirs." For a while Charlie was quiet as he focused on reeling in a catch. So far he wasn't having much luck either, but that didn't seem to discourage him the way it had me. He finally made a small catch and the Captain came and helped him get it off his line and into storage. As they worked I wondered how my husband was doing and how my babies were. Leaving this morning had been so hard because of how upset Renesmee had gotten. Later, Charlie told me that it was like that with me when he and mom would meet half way. I never wanted to go with him.

"You sure you don't want to give it another go. Bells?"

"Nah, your doing great and I'm enjoying some of this quiet time."

"You two don't get much of that do you?"

"No. The kids stay with his parents while we are in school but we try to do most of their care on our own."

Charlie nodded once, "That's good. I still wish I would have been around for you more." Now that I was older and knew more I kind of wished the same but decided not to say that.

~Edward~

Coming inside for lunch and naps brought the end of the calm that had been my morning with Anthony and Renesmee. My daughter loved being outside, and loved the water, but Anthony was fussing and I had seen a couple of yawns from Renesmee. "Don't want go inside," Renesmee cried as she walked in front of me carrying her towel along with the bucket and shovel. In my arms Anthony was being quiet resting against my shoulder and I was glad at least one of them was calm.

"I know you don't and once you wake up Momma and Grandah should be home and we can go back outside." Renesmee got as far as the door before she sat down still crying. I stepped past her putting Anthony in his bouncy seat in the kitchen before going back to where she was sobbing. "Come on. Will you help me fix lunch?"

"Noo," she cried hiding her face against her legs.

I knew she was beyond reasoning with and when I picked her up she struggled briefly before her cheek was against my shoulder. When I got to the family room Anthony started to fuss, and Renesmee clung to me as I moved to put her down. Since she was still in wet clothing I tended to her, but put the TV on a cartoon for my son which got his attention. Once Renesmee was wearing a pair of tan shorts and a yellow halter top, I held her as I got her lunch ready letting her sit on my lap while she ate.

"See Momma," Renesmee said in between bites of left over chicken.

"You will soon," I assured gently rocking her. When Anthony started up again I put her in the highchair and she continued to eat while I walked over to her brother. "What's got you so vocal today?" I asked as I lifted him from the seat. He continued to fuss as I heated a bottle for him, and when he didn't take that I checked his diaper finding that he was both clean and dry.

"Down Daddy," Renesmee called out.

Instead of putting Anthony down I made a few quick adjustments to the harness before slipping that on and putting him inside. He continued to cry as I wiped Renesmee's hands.

"He needs nap. I go side play gain."

"I need for you to pick out a story for us to share," I said over Anthony's cries. Once she was on her feet, Renesmee ran to the master bedroom while I got Anthony out of the harness. His cries were growing in length and volume, so I settled him with the length of his body resting against my arm with his cheek supported by my hand. Almost instantly the cries stopped. "Is that better?" I asked rubbing his back while I walked slowly toward the family room. Bella had found that holding Renesmee had worked pretty well and Anthony seemed to like it as well. I listened for my daughter expecting to hear going through her books along with the beat of her heart. The absence of both would have sent my own heart racing. I quickly put my son back in his seat hating that he was almost asleep. His cries started as I ran outside seeing Renesmee just as she took one step deeper into the water as a wave knocked her over. A growl escaped me as I launched myself into the surf and I had her back in my arms as she took a breath laughing.

Her brother was still crying as I arrived back at the house trying very hard to get control of my anger. If I tried to punish her now I would hurt her. My eyes were shut and my daughter was still in my arms as I leaned against the outer wall of the house gathering my calm. I felt her hand on my neck and saw what she did. "You will never ever go outside this house or any other unless I or your mother says otherwise," I growled.

My baby began to cry and struggle to be let down and I carried her back inside swatting her two times before I put her down in her crib. I left both of my children wailing as I ran outside into the the woods and finding a tree small enough I ripped it from the ground and threw it. I was angry at her, and myself for having not anticipated what she would do. When did they start realizing that when a person told them no, they had to listen. Why did she always have to test us? There was no such thing as the perfect child and yet sometimes like now I wished there was.

"Da a dy," Renesmee cried. Taking a deep breath I turned and went back to the house to try and explain to Renesmee why she had to listen, and also find a way to get them both settled down.

~Bella~

When we got back to the Island I thought Edward and the kids would be waiting for us, but they weren't. Charlie had enough fish to feed us for a few days with left overs and we had picked up some things in Rio that would go good with what he was ready to prepare. "I wonder where Edward and the kids are," he asked, voicing my earlier thoughts.

"They may still be asleep," I answered, though I figured they would have been up by now. When the house was in view Edward didn't come out to greet us and I felt my heart beat a little faster. Inside it was quiet and after putting the bags of things I had on the kitchen counter I crept quietly to the room opening the door. It was dark and the window unit was going. Edward was in bed with both our children asleep beside him. His eyes were shut and he didn't say anything as I got closer to them. When I got to the side closest to him I sat down on the mattress and slipped my saddles off before settling behind him. "What's wrong?"

"I growled at her today and lost my temper," Edward whispered. I waited and a moment later he turned over to face me. "Anthony was crying and I told her to come in here to get a book. I got him settled down holding him that special way you showed me when I realized I couldn't hear her as easily as I should have," Edward took a breath and I kissed his left cheek. "When I realized why I couldn't hear her I put him back in his seat and found her in the ocean. A wave knocked her over but I got her out before she could panic. Actually she thought it was funny at first. I was still holding her trying to get a hold on my anger wanting to figure out why I was so mad. When I saw myself the way she saw me I came back to reality and very gruffly told her that she was never to go outside unless with were with her. I think that scared her but I also swatted her twice before I put her down. Anthony was crying, she was crying and I had to get out."

After that he didn't say anything and was very still. It was a bit disconcerting seeing him so out of sorts because Edward was in control of himself most of the time. "What happened when you came back?"

My husband shut his eyes for a moment before opening them to look at me, "I picked Renesmee up and let her settle down before carrying her in to get Anthony. Once we were all in here he calmed down and went to sleep. I explained to her how dangerous it was to go out there alone and that I spanked her because she had gone out there knowing that we didn't want her to do that without us. After that she cried herself to sleep. I'm not sure I was in control."

I hugged my husband resting my head against his chest. "The fact that you stopped and stood holding her trying to get a grasp on the situations makes me think you were. You said you wouldn't ever punish them when you weren't in control and after you spanked her you went outside to get more focused right?" He nodded. "We agreed that when she willfully does something we ask her not to that she will be spanked and what she did was definitely willful."

"I hate how I feel afterward. You know that dream you said you had when she was perfect?" I lifted my head away from him and nodded looking straight into his eyes. "I found myself wishing she really was perfect and I can't understand why she does things she seems to know will get her in trouble."

I leaned forward kissing his lips. "I'm not sure anyone can understand the logic of a small child. We just have to deal with things as a team." That was easier said than done. I knew plenty of times when I felt like yelling at Renesmee when she did things over and over and had done that myself. Maybe after today she would remember and not be so stubborn, but she was too much like me. As I rested back against him, I felt my husband relaxing and soon found myself drifting off to sleep.

The next time I opened my eyes it was because of the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. The bed was empty and I could heart Renesmee laughing about something. Once I was up, I headed for the family room finding my father sitting on the sofa bouncing Renesmee on his lap. Her hair was bouncing along with her body and it looked like she was having a good time. In the kitchen Edward was pulling a casserole dish from the oven and Anthony was in his bouncy seat on the kitchen table watching the mobile turn over his head. "How long did I sleep?" I asked noticing that it was still light outside.

"An hour and a half," Edward answered putting the dish on some pot warmers. Once his hands were free he pulled me into his embrace and we managed a kiss before I felt small hands patting my knees. I looked down finding my little girl with a smile on her face. There was a part of me that wanted to talk to her about earlier, but I figured Edward had dealt with it and that if she wanted to tell me she would. "Now, what did you do today?" I asked while lifting her into my arms. My daughter hugged me resting her head on my shoulder.

"Daddy mad me today."

"He did?" I carried her over to the sofa across from Charlie and put her on my lap facing me. "Why did Daddy get mad?"

"Went side and got in water. Daddy say no and I did and he got mad," Renesmee looked at me sadly and I kissed her little nose.

"Did he tell you why he was angry?"

"I get hurt if I go all by self. Daddy say no do it again."

"I hope you won't," I said, not sure what to really tell her. When Edward announced dinner was ready, Grandah Charlie came and lifted Renesmee onto his shoulders. She got to sit on his lap and seemed to like the fish. It wasn't bad. "This is really good," I told my husband.

"It is. Is this something you remembered from your human life?" Charlie asked after swallowing his bite and offering one to my daughter.

"No, mostly I learned from watching the Food Network, and reading cook books."

Edward winked at me and I smiled remembering how he would cook for me when we were on our honeymoon. He told me the same thing about learning to cook and I wondered if I would be able to handle that once I was a vampire.

"All done," Renesmee announced.

"You can get down, but I want you to play in the family room," Edward said looking right into her eyes. She nodded and trotted off toward her toy box.

Once dinner was finished and the babies were in bed, Charlie offered to watch them while Edward and I took a walk. We were quiet as we made our way down the beach. The sky was clear and it seemed like the sky and the earth were a part of one another. "It's so beautiful," I whispered. Edward squeezed my hand. "Are you feeling better, I mean about earlier?"

"Yes. I was in control when I disciplined her and she was safe with the baby while I left to gather my thoughts. I just don't like doing that."

"I don't like you having to do that, and I'm hoping she'll be more willing to listen as she gets older," I said.

We walked a while longer before Edward stopped pulling me gently in front of him. "I'm really glad you had time today with Charlie and I enjoyed my time with our children."

When he pulled me into his arms I sighed, "I just wish there would have been more times like today when I didn't resent Charlie and Renee for dragging me all over the place. When I was little I always gave him a hard time, and now that change is coming I feel like I've let everything slip away." My husband rubbed his hand up and down my back and I felt his cold kiss pressed against the top of my head. "My hope is that when the change is complete we will have more time. Maybe we could find a way to move closer."

"That is something we will have to wait for," Edward said as I breathed in his scent.

"I know, it seems like a long way from now, and also so close." As we walked back toward the house, I gave Edward detailed description of how my day went happy to have time along with the man I loved. We were supposed to have good weather for the next few days; good enough so that Charlie's flight would be at night to keep everyone safe. Right now all that I wanted was time with my family before we headed back to the reality that was moving full speed ahead.

~*~

AN: Hey everyone. Sorry it took longer than usual to update but I ended up with a cold that I'm still recovering from. I'm getting such great response from everyone from reviews and adds to lists and as usual I want to send out my thanks to everyone. We are moving closer to Bella's transformation, but I wanted to get a little more family time on the Island and some time with Charlie. I have one more Island chapter left in my mind before they go home with the rest of the family showing up. It's going to be crowded, but then again they don't have to sleep. Hope you all will keep on reading. More soon.

~Ella~