Bella's POV:

I couldn't believe that Emmett was so eager to have our mother move so close to us and have her in Brooke's life.

The icing on the cake though was when I heard from him that she didn't want to have anything to do with Charlotte simply because she was adopted. I mean I wasn't going to allow Cole or Charlotte anywhere near her but Charlotte was my daughter period and I was never going to allow my mother to make her feel the way I did as a child.

I stormed out of the restaurant and called Rosalie.

"Rosie I'm sorry but I don't think I can make shopping this afternoon," I said.

"Everything okay Bells?" She asked and the concern was evident.

"I just need some time to myself but I'll see you at Esme's later." I explained and we said our good byes.

I just drove for awhile thinking quietly. I wasn't overreacting- she could treat me like shit but there was no way in hell I was going to allow her near my children. Emmett could do it and I wouldn't fight him on it but my children weren't going to be involved with her.

By the time I broke out of my stupor it was nearly time to be at Esme and Carlisle's for dinners so I pulled a u turn and headed straight to my friends home.

I parked at the end of their driveway, behind Paul's navy blue truck, and started towards the house.

I could hear talking in the backyard so I walked around the side of the house and was thrilled to see Jasper pushing Cole on the baby swings, Charlotte was in the sandbox with Peter and her cousin Brooke and Esme, Rose and Leah were standing around the patio.

Jasper saw me and rushed forwards "Oh thank god."

He hugged me tightly and I asked "What's wrong?"

"You didn't answer my calls," He said "I was so worried about you."

I pulled away and reached into my jacket pocket to pull out my cell- it read four missed calls and was the indicator light was flashing red signalling that I had messages.

"I'm sorry," I sighed "I didn't hear my phone ring."

Rose had come forward at this point and hugged me "Sorry for my oaf of a husband." She whispered and I chuckled.

"Please Bella next time you have a freak out or a melt down or just plain decide to go out alone- tell me where you're going because I love you dearly and you scared me." Jasper said softly holding my hand.

I nodded "I promise."

I kissed him and waved to Charlotte and went to sit with the other women to talk.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

Jasper's POV:

After I'd spoken to Bella I was a hundred times more relaxed and was able to enjoy bonding with my son a little bit.

We'd arrived at Esme and Carlisle's an hour before hand and Paul and Emmett set to helping Carlisle start getting the barbecue ready. I sought out Esme and Rose and spoke with them about my worries about Bella and how her mother being in town could affect her and then decided to play with the kids for a while.

I'd been worried when Bella was late but the sight of her instantly untangled the knots my stomach had wound itself into.

"Daddy," Cole reached towards me with his chubby little arms "Uppies!"

"Alright buddy," I laughed and carefully picked him up. He giggled wildly and I carried him over to the sandbox where my daughter was playing.

"Hi daddy," She smiled up at me and waved a shovel at me. "See Peter, Booke and my castle!"

"It's very nice pretty girl," I said sitting down on the edge of the sandbox and settling Cole down in front of me. I ruffled her hair gently and she pouted and straightened her hair quickly.

Peter grinned at her and helped her straighten her hair out. I shook my head with a small laugh- I had a sneaking suspicion I was going to have big problems with the two of them in their teenage years.

"I'm going to go see mommy," I told Char and she nodded and went back to working on her castle.

I smiled at Bella as she shifted over in the patio swing to allow me the space to sit next to her.

"I love you," I murmured and kissed her cheek.

She rested against my shoulder and sighed happily and I heard our female family members make awing noises and Bella smirked happily.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

Dinner was actually excellent and went over smoothly. Bella didn't talk to Emmett more than absolutely necessary and I could tell she was hurt by the turn of events.

"I'm going to put Cole down," Bella whispered as she pulled our son out of his car seat and his head laid limply on her shoulder and I nodded.

"Daddy," Charlotte started sleepily "Read me pincess story peas?"

"Okay princess," I agreed "Can you walk up to your room?"

She nodded and I helped her out of the car and held her hand tightly all the way into the house.

"Want some help?" I asked as I fished her pyjamas out of her closet.

She nodded and her eyes were drooping as I helped her out of her day clothes.

"Daddy," She whispered as I tucked the blankets around her tiny body. "I loves you."

"I love you too baby," I smiled wildly and kissed the top of her head. "Cinderella?"

She nodded eagerly and I grabbed the desired book off the shelf and laid down next to her to read the story.

She snuggled tight to me and was asleep halfway through the story.

As I watched her breath evenly and snore lightly I had a flash of memory.

Flash:

Charlotte's wails filled my ears and I turned around to see her rocking back and forth sobbing and holding onto her knee.

I knelt beside her and noted the gravel in her knee and winced. I hated seeing my daughter in pain.

I lifted her quickly and headed inside the house. I grabbed the first aid kid from the kitchen cupboard and sat her down on our couch.

"Oh princess," I sighed as I kissed the tears off her cheeks. "This is going to hurt a little bit but I'll read you Cinderella as soon as we put a band aid on.

She nodded and sniffled and I started working on patching up her knee.

Five minutes and a lot of tears later my two year old was settled on my lap and we were reading 'Cinderella'.

Bella walked in with Cole an hour later and found Charlotte fast asleep on my chest and me dozing as well and snapped off a few pictures.

Present:

It just so happened that one of the pictures on Charlotte's dresser was one taken that day and I was entranced by the obvious love between us.

It didn't matter what that she wasn't genetically mine- she was my baby girl, my precious princess and that's what mattered.

I flicked off the bedroom lights and made sure her nightlight was on and the door open just a crack before I ventured down the hall to join my wife.

Bella was already laying on the bed reading when I came into the room.

"She go down okay?" Bella asked looking up from her book, peering over her reading glasses.

"She was asleep within minutes," I nodded as I winced taking my shirt off. The pants were much simpler and caused far less pain and I decided that over the head shirts were not going to work for the remainder of the time I was healing.

I crawled into bed next to her "So you and Emmett didn't have a good lunch today huh?"

She shook her head and closed her book. "Not really." She took off her glasses and laid both items on her bedside table.

I opened my arms and she scooted into my embrace.

"What happened?" I asked. I knew most of what had gone on but I wanted to hear it all from her and give her a chance to get it off her chest.

"Renee is moving to Seattle and Emmett is supporting it." Bella started playing with the top of my sweat pants absently.

"Is that really the end of the world?" I asked running my fingers through her hair.

"She wants to get to know her grandchildren- Cole and Brooke," Bella said "Apparently Charlotte doesn't count as a grandchild. Not that I care what she thinks but she could ruin Charlotte's opinion of being adopted."

"We won't let her," I said calmly "Charlotte is our daughter not our adopted daughter, she's just our baby."

"You always know what to say," She grinned and leaned up to kiss me gently.

I rolled slightly to flick off the lamp and went back to holding my wife. Now that I remembered her I really didn't want to be apart from her.

J&BJ&BJ&BJ&B

I woke in the middle of the night to weak cries and Bella missing from my arms.

Bleary eyed I walked to our bathroom and found Bella holding Charlotte in her lap and a thermometer in Char's mouth.

"What's going on?" I asked coming forward and holding my hand against Charlotte's head.

"She was throwing up," Bella said calmly "I just want to take her temperature and see if we should take her to the hospital."

I sat on the edge of the tub and motioned for Bella to hand Charlotte over. Charlotte instantly snuggled close to me and I had to bite my tongue from groaning when she hit my bruises.

Bella winced but mouthed 'Thank you' as she started digging through the medicine cabinet and grabbing various medicine bottles.

"Damn it," Bella cursed loudly "No children's Tylenol. How the hell don't I have any?" She groaned and Charlotte heaved again but nothing came up. I rubbed her back trying to soothe her but it wasn't having any effect.

Bella turned and gave Charlotte a weak but reassuring smile "I'm sorry for yelling baby." She murmured and ran her hands over Charlotte's clammy, pale face.

She pulled the thermometer out of Charlotte's mouth and I was dismayed when the smile fell off of her face.

"What's the verdict?" I asked.

"103.2" Bella cringed "We're going to the hospital."