Disclaimer. All publicly recognizable characters, settings etc., are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I only do this for fun.

Crazier Than it Seems

A/N: This may or may not be the title of the story, it hasn't been decided yet! This story is written as a collaboration by both Xo BellaItalia oX and casey21791. If you have any questions or comments, post them in my reviews and I will answer them in my next Author's Note at the bottom of the chapter! We hope that you enjoy the story and look forward to reading your reviews. - Bella'Xo

Chapter 4
(Emma's POV)

As soon as my mother's name came out of his mouth, I knew that at some level he still loved her, but if this was the level of his affection by him still having a portrait of her around after all this time, still begged the question of why didn't she ever tell him - even later when she knew she was dying... wouldn't you want a clear conscience?

I tried to clear my throat, but I still couldn't get any words to come out. So, I just stood there like a stunned mullet.

I could see out the corner of my eye that Bella had come forward and handed Charlie (my father, who I still couldn't believe was standing right there in front of me) the letter I gave her earlier.

I studied my father's face as he studied mine and I was happy to see that we shared the same brown hair and I also had the same brown eye as he did, too. My other eye was definitely my mother's.

Only when he started to read the letter did his face start to turn pale, then bright red, until it settled on purple and it was then that I realized that he might not want me here and even though my fear was flooding through my body, it didn't stop my legs from running as I bolted for the door. I had my keys in my hand and had pressed the central locking.

In the back of my head, I could her Bella yelling for me to stop, but I wasn't going to until a pair of arms circled me and stopped me in my tracks.

"Stop Emma, I need you to stop!" yelled Charlie.

"Let me go," I screamed back as tears streamed down my face. I kicked and thrashed, because the fear of rejection was sky high. But he didn't and I knew that deep down, he never would.

"Emma, I promise you that if I knew about you, I would've kept you. I would have raised you myself, but I have you now and I don't want to lose you!" Declared Charlie and it was when that I lost all my fight and collapsed into my father's arms as all my energy seemed to disappear and I fell into a deep sleep.

(Charlie`s POV)

It was as though I was 19 years in the past as I stared into the eyes of my first love. But as the seconds went by, I started to see the differences, like her hair tone. This girl's hair was darker and her eyes were two different colors were my Mary had two bright green eyes, rather than one.

I saw Bella come forward to hand me a letter, but this wasn't just any letter. This letter would change everything I thought I knew.

I had to read it twice before it sunk in, but once it did, I felt myself pale as anger overtook me. How dare this women! Why didn't she ever tell me about the one thing she knew I always wanted; a family. I couldn't believe she would just abandon my baby.

It took me a second to register Bella yelling, "Stop Emma" as she dashed past me in an attempt to escape. I bolted after both my daughters.

I caught Emma just as she reached her car door and I wrapped my arms around her, begging her to stop. As she kept fighting, I gave her a promise that I knew I would keep until my dying breath.

"Emma, I promise you that if I knew about you, I would've kept you. I would have raised you myself, but I have you now and I don't want to lose you!" I declared and then I felt all of the fight drain out of her as she collapsed into my arms. After some maneuvering, I gathered her up and carried her into the house while she fell asleep as I placed her onto the couch.

Bella had followed us in as she had picked up Emma's keys and set them next to the letter on the coffee table. I couldn't help, but stare at Emma as she slept and it was then that I thought to myself. What could I offer a 18 years girl who is fully grown and from the car outside has plenty of money but all that went out the window when Bell`s told me what they talked about before I got home and it made me hopeful that maybe she just might need a family.

(Bella's POV)

Really, I shouldn't have been shocked that I had a half-sister that we had no idea about. Especially after finding out about the supernatural world that involved vampires; this really did come out of the woodwork.

After reading the letter and having spoken to her, I knew that I could embrace her as a sister as well as a friend, but I wasn't expecting Charlie to react the way he did. However, family to Charlie has always meant the world to him, so I knew that she would be staying.

I got up and went into the kitchen, because as soon as she woke, I knew it would be time to eat, so I just started cooking.

I thought about her reaction to Charlie and it shocked me how in the smallest doubt or fear of rejection that she bolted. Maybe her life in foster care wasn't good or that she really did need us.

I wonder what Edward will think about her…

(Emma's POV)

Waking up with Charlie staring at me was awkward, but also confronting as it meant that he cared about me. But as I sat up, Bella came in and announced, "Perfect timing, Emma! Dinner is ready!"

I stood up, but first I turned to her and asked, "May I use the bathroom to freshen up first?"

Bella spoke up straight away. "Oh, of course! I'm so sorry, it's up the stairs and first door on the left. Take your time"

I went past Charlie, who was still staring off into space. But as soon as I got close enough, he snapped out of it and grabbed my hand, stopping my movement.

"Emma, I want you to get all those thoughts out of your head about me not wanting you, because I do. You're my daughter and if things had been different, I would've of taken you in when you were born, with or without Mary. I not losing you. We have each other now, okay?"

I stared into his eyes, trying to find anything to tell me whether or not he was lying, but I didn't see anything, but honesty.

"Thank you," I whispered. "It's the one thing that I've wished for on every birthday; for a family to want me for me and not for the pay check."

I turned and went to the bathroom. After using the facilities, I freshened up by splashing water on my face and fixed my hair before heading back down.

I found both Bella and Charlie sitting at the dining room table as they waited for me. It was the picture that I've dreamed about for so long, but was brought out of my dreaming by Bella.

"I made spaghetti and garlic bread with a side salad. I hope you're not allergic to anything. We also have milk, orange juice, a coke or a beer to drink. What would you prefer?"

Charlie mumbled out his objections, "No beer, young lady" which made me smile, but I asked for a coke instead as I sat down and for the first time in my 18 years of life, I had dinner with my family. It was something that I haven't felt anything like before in my life.

I complemented Bella after I swallowed my last bite from dinner. It was humorous when she would blush bright red but thanked me all the same.

Since she had cooked, I volunteered to clean up, but before Bella could speak up, Charlie, who had been silent all during dinner, spoke up by saying that he would dry them for me.

Twenty minutes later, we were all back in the lounge room in an uncomfortable silence, until Bella (thank god) spoke to me. "You know, Emma, it's not too late to enroll at Forks High School so that you could finish your senior year?"

Charlie`s head snapped up so fast that I thought his neck would crack. "I could change the sun room into a bedroom for you if you'd like, since we don't really use it anyway. That is, if you were thinking of hanging around?"

I looked at Charlie and then at Bella before I nodded my head. "Yeah, that would be great. But do you really want a stranger living in your house? I mean, you don't even know me from Eve. I should just find a place close by and rent it, so we can get to know each other that way."

Charlie was already shaking his head 'no' before I had even finished speaking. "I can't have you living by yourself in a strange new town, even if you are 18. Besides, I'm at work from 8 in the morning to 5 at night and Bella is at school, which you could attend as well, so it won't leave much time to learn about each other, unless we all live together. Anyway, I won't have you wasting your money like that."

I looked over at Bella and she was already smiling."What he said," She added.

I could feel a smile break out onto my face as I agreed. "Well, I have already got a place to stay tonight, but we will have to come to an agreement about me paying for myself and room and board or something. I won't feel right, otherwise. I'll go to the high school tomorrow to sort out the paper work,"

Bella spoke "Why don't you come here tomorrow at 8.30 and I'll take you to the school. If Charlie agrees, I'll take the day off and show you around Forks before we bring your stuff here. Oh, and we will have to buy a bed as well and my truck will be perfect for that. What do you think?"

So, I told her the truth, 'this was all my dreams coming true'.

Two hours later…..

After a grueling two hours of arguing with Charlie, we had hashed out what I would pay for room and board. We decided that we'd share the grocery bill, as I will probably like some things that they don't and vice reverses.

I finally said goodnight to my half-sister and father for the first time before I headed back to the little B & B for the night and as sleep claimed me quickly, I began to think that for the first time, I couldn't wait for tomorrow.

I woke up at 7 the next morning and laid there for a few minutes as I went over yesterday in my head. I really couldn't believe that they had accepted me so well. I mean, never in all my fantasy's had I thought that this would happen this way, but I wasn't going to change anything that happened.

So, as I rose, I decided on a quick shower before breakfast and as I dried myself, I looked through the bag I brought in from the car and decided on my black leggings that went down to my ankles with my long black, gray and purple dress shirt before stuffing my feet into my gray swede ankle boots. I brushed my hair before putting it into a ponytail.

The cutest of old ladies, who run the bed/breakfast had made me a Spanish omelet and orange juice for breakfast. After I brushed my teeth, I packed my bag and checked out.

It wasn't until I was pulling out in front of Charlie`s, did I notice the silver Volvo sitting out in the front. I hadn't know at the time, but I was about to get the shock of my life...

A/N: Cliff Hanger! What do you think will happen?! By the way, this story right now is during the first story right after Bella figured out what the Cullen's were and Edward came to pick her up for school for her first time. So, she didn't know that he was going to be there that morning to pick her up. Review!

If you have any questions or comments, post them in my reviews and I will answer them in my next Author's Note!

angel2u: I sense awkwardness... So is Bella already in school?

Yeah, Bella has been in school for a few weeks and had just discovered that Edward was a vampire. Like I just said in my Author's Note, this is the first time that Edward showed up at Bella's to pick her up for school. So Bella won't be expecting him until she sees him. :-) Thanks for reviewing!

To see more, go to either mine or Casey's FF page: Xo BellaItalia oX or Casey21791

If you enjoyed this story so far, check out some of my other stories on my FanFiction page! Also, I am still accepting Twilight stories that involve Jasper/any female leads or Bella/selected male leads if anyone is looking for a Beta Reader. I will make exceptions on the characters depending on the plot. I am also now accepting Phantom of the Opera FanFictions that include Erik! I will also be accepting Bones featuring Agent Seeley Booth, Dawson's Creek, Titanic FanFictions featuring Jack, Snow White and the Huntsman featuring Snow White or Eric (the huntsman), The Ghost Whisperer that feature Melinda and Law and Order SVU that feature Elliot. I will accept OC characters as well depending on the other lead character. PM me for details!
- Bella'Xo
Xo BellaItalia oX