A/N: This is the last chapter in EPOV.

Beta'd by the lovely Michelle Renker Rhodes

Most characters belong to S. Meyer

Chapter 40 – Safe and Sound

EPOV

"You're late. Rose left already."

"Thank God," I smirked. "I timed it good. Anyway, better late than never, right?" I grinned strolling in and gave Alice a kiss on the cheek while she pursed her lips in mock disapproval.

"Besides, didn't you guys go on that yearly ice-skating adventure today?"

"You know you're welcome to come with us," she said, closing the door. "Mel would've loved that."

"Yeah, well, maybe next year. We'll see. So where is the birthday girl?"

"Uncle Edward!"

She ran over to me and hugged me tight.

"Happy twelfth birthday," I chuckled. "I owe you a present."

She shrugged. "I don't care. You should've come ice-skating with us today. That could've been my present."

"Just like your mother," I smirked, ruffling her hair.

OOOOOOOOOO

The four of us played Xbox for a while, Mel and her dad against Al and me, and yeah, those two were kicking our asses.

"Isn't it time for her to go to bed?" I said after another epic loss.

"I'm twelve now, and it's the holidays, and besides, you just want me to go to bed because I'm schooling you the way Mom used to school you when you were kids!"

"Kid's too smart for her own damn good. If you lived with me, you'd be going to bed now," I said.

"Well it's a good thing I don't live with you," she mouthed off.

"It's a good thing you don't," I retorted.

"Alright, alright," Alice laughed. "Mel, Baby, it is really late."

"But Mom-"

"No buts. Come on, let's go get you settled."

"Good night, Uncle Ed," Mel sang tauntingly, sticking out her tongue at me.

"You were my kid, you'd be getting that tongue pulled out," I teased her.

"It's a good thing I'm not your kid."

"It's a good thing you're not."

She chuckled. "Love you, Uncle Ed."

"Love you too, Pain-in-the…" – I looked at Al and Jasper – "Behind."

After those two left, Jasper disappeared for a few minutes and then returned with two glasses of egg nog, handing me one before picking up his controller again. We played silently for a while. I tasted the egg nog and grimaced. Virgin.

I guess Jasper saw the grimace.

"When was the last time you had a drink, E?"

I sighed and kept my eyes on the screen before me as I shot at a few more zombies. "Don't start with that shit."

"It's just a question," he said off-handedly, his eyes also firmly on the screen.

"What do you want from me?" I finally asked. "I'm not like you, Jass."

"I'm not asking you to be like me."

"See, you're this family guy," I continued, grinning at the TV, "with a wife and a daughter you take care of all the time. Me, I'm like Dad. I take care of myself. You just gotta accept that."

"You're not like Dad, Edward," Jasper said. I could hear the frustration in his voice, but I was frustrated too, and getting sick of this. Lately, almost every time I saw him, it was like Jasper was on this mission to save me from some shit when I didn't need or want to be saved.

"You know what you need, Edward? You need a purpose."

"I have a purpose," I scoffed. "A few of them actually."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him shaking his head. "You weren't meant to head down that road."

I set the controller down and looked at my brother. "What was I meant for, a family like the one you have? Do I look like a family man to you, someone's potential husband? Some unfortunate kid's father?" I snorted.

"You think you and I are that different?" he asked, holding my gaze.

"I know we are."

"You don't know jack, Little Brother. Maybe someday, I'll clue you in."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Jasper studied me, eyes identical to mine looking like they wanted to sear into me.

"If something ever happens to Alice and me-"

"Man, stop talking shit," I waved him off, picking up the controller and getting back to it. "It's the day after Christmas and your daughter's birthday. Don't talk about shit like that."

Jasper chuckled. "I'm serious. When you've got kids, you gotta think about these things. Like I was saying, if anything ever happens to Alice and me, we want you to take care of Mel."

I snorted. "Yeah, right. Now it's my turn to ask you when was the last time you had a drink," I side-eyed him.

He laughed. "I'm serious."

"What the hell would I do with her?" I asked, not seriously entertaining this discussion but just going along for the hell of it.

"You'd figure it out."

"Yeah, alright," I grinned. "Anyway, Alice's parents, hell even Rose would swoop down and take that kid from me quick fast."

"Don't worry," Jass grinned back all confidently. "They're not taking anybody without our say, Little Bro. We may not have much, but we know how to take care of our daughter. We don't want Al's parents, or even Rose. Al's parents are assholes, and Rose…Rose has two kids and a newborn and needs to accept that the bastard she's married to is just holding her down, and I can't be sure that she'll ever figure that out."

"But you can be sure about me?" I asked sardonically. By this point, I'd set the controller down again and angled myself to face him.

"You just need a purpose, Edward. That's all you need. Just one purpose."

I stared at him, and then with a roll of my eyes, got up.

"Man, stop talking shit." I laughed. "I don't want to hear it, Virgin Egg Nog my ass, you are fucking drunk. And you and Al aren't going anywhere anyway. You'll be changing your great-grandchildren's diapers one day, teaching them how to school me at Black Ops."

Jasper chuckled one more time, taking a drink from his supposed virgin egg nog. "From your mouth to God's ears, Little Brother, from your mouth to God's ears. Now come on and lemme finish kicking your ass."

OOOOOOOOOO

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

"Come here, Man," I tell Paul. "Look at this. You gotta drill the holes further apart or you're going to split the frames." I take the drill and show him what I mean, and somehow manage to get my fucking thumb caught under the drill - just for a split second, but it's enough to hurt like hell and to leave me with a hole through my fingernail.

"Fuck!"

Emmett walks over and looks over my shoulder.

"You better go take care of that."

"It's fine."

"Go take care of it before you bleed all over this kitchen. 'Sides, you're no good with a messed up hand. Go bandage it at least."

The other guys chuckle while I smirk.

I go downstairs and pull out the first-aid kit from the truck, rub some bacitracin over my finger and then wrap it in a bandage. With a deep breath, I open up the glove compartment and reach for my last pack of cigarettes.

Em comes down and finds me leaning up against the truck, having a smoke.

"I'm almost done."

"I'm not rushing you. You haven't taken a break today."

I don't respond. Instead, I hold out the pack to him, but he shakes his head.

"Trying to quit. I thought you were too," he grins.

I take a deep drag, letting it fill my lungs before I exhale it slowly.

"Yeah well, I figured this was the lesser of two evils."

"That kind of day, huh?"

I nod. "That kind of weekend. Em…you ever heard anything about Jasper having a drinking problem?"

Emmett frowns and shakes his head, leaning up against the truck next to me. "Not that I knew of. Far as I knew, he stayed away from that shit religiously."

"Yeah he did. I mean…" - I take another drag – "I kinda remember when I was a kid, he was maybe fifteen, sixteen, and a couple of times he came home shit-faced, but…I don't think it was a problem. And then he met Al anyway." When I take the next drag, I let the menthol burn deep in my chest while I think…

"Anyway, fuck it." I flick away the cigarette. "It doesn't matter now anyhow."

"Why are you asking?"

"Bella wants kids."

"Right now?" he chuckles.

"No, not right now - later on down the line."

"And?"

"And…I don't know if I do."

I feel his eyes on me. "I don't know how much to ask here, Man, so…you're gonna have to volunteer the info."

"This shit." I rub the palm of my hand against my chin hard. "It's in my blood. I'd be passing it on to my kids. And anyway," I scowl, "What kind of father would I be?"

"I don't know," he shrugs. "Do you?"

"I don't know either."

"I mean, you're a father to Mel now."

"That's different."

"Why?"

I sigh in frustration, rethinking my decision to bring this up with him.

"It wasn't a choice."

He leans off of the truck and takes a stand in front of me.

"Lemme ask you something. Let's leave out the fact that you're raising Mel because her parents aren't around anymore. Do you regret having to do it?"

"No!" I rake a hand through my hair. "Bella's got her career, and Emmett not for nothing, she's good. She's so fucking good. I figured she'd want to keep at it for as long as she could."

"Are you sure you're in the right century?" he laughs at me. "Women nowadays do lots of things while having kids!"

I roll my eyes. "I know that. And you know, they're expensive as all hell - clothes and food and…college and shit. I mean, I know we're doing better, and don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think I could afford all that right now."

"Well, you know, there are two of you that would be paying for all that. And as far as I know, they don't go to college or eat too much in the beginning stages." His lips twitch.

"You're not taking this shit seriously, Man," I scowl, and he breaks into laughter.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he says, still chuckling. "Look, I gotta be honest with you, I'm having a hard time seeing Bella's career or your current financial status as impediments to your future baby-making possibilities. Even I know Bella was practically born to be a mother, and as for your financial status, yeah, right now you could be doing better, but Ed Man, you're foreman now, and you've seen how many offers we've been getting' lately. I've had to turn down jobs! Turned them down, Man!" he snorts, "because we're booked back to back for the foreseeable future!"

"As for being afraid to pass on your disease, Ed, how many people in this world got diseases they pass on to their kids either knowingly or unknowingly? It's a part of life," he shrugs. "You just gotta be there for your kid, that's all."

"That's all?" I snort, crossing my arms against my chest. "That easy, huh?"

"You wanna make it hard, that's your prerogative," he shrugs. "You ask me, you been a father for a year now, and a damn good one. Yeah, it's tough at times, but if you care enough, you stick it out. Look at your sister's piece of shit husband. He's no alcoholic, got no diseases that we know of, has a good job, yet he hasn't been there for his kids a damn day in his life," he scowls. "And those three kids…they need a father. It's got nothing to do with their genes or background. They need a father plain and simple. Now you think cuz he's got a clean bill of health and a good income, that would've automatically made him a better father than you?"

"You signing up for that job?" I ask, now that this is out. I've been wanting to know, and well, he's gotta tell me now.

"Maybe I am," he crosses his arms against his chest. "But I'll tell you what, if I don't, it's got nothing to do with those kids. I'd be their father in an instant, but their mother and me gotta figure out if we fit together right, just right, because those kids don't deserve to have another daddy figure come in and out of their lives. All that's holding me back is making sure things between Rose and me are right. But you…" he frowns. "Man, you know. You know things between you and Bella are right. And she's already a great mother, and you're already a great father, so if you really don't see yourself giving her this, you need to let her know for sure."

"You think I'm being a coward."

"I think you're letting an old fear guide you, not the same as being a coward. Talk to her tonight."

I nod.

OOOOOOOOOO

SUNDAY EVENING

I'm on my way to Mel's grandparents'. I keep trying Mel's number on my cell, but her voicemail keeps picking up, and I end the call angrily.

Meanwhile, Bella stayed behind at our place until Sue could get there with Charlie. They're going to stay there in case Mel comes home, and then Bella is coming to join me – unless Mel makes it home before then.

Please let Mel make it home before then.

"Mel, call me back," I beg her voicemail for about the twentieth time. "Come on," I breathe, "You've got us really worried, and Bella's about to lose it. Come home, or call me back. Please Mel."

Frustrated after getting nothing but voicemail again, I slam the phone against the console, and almost as soon as I do, it starts ringing. I reach for it quickly and check the caller ID, but it's Rose.

"Hello?" she answers.

"Rose, you haven't heard from Mel, have you?"

"What? No, why?"

"Fuck," I breathe. "Look…I've got to tell you something, but you need to keep calm, alright?"

"Edward, what is it? What's happened?"

"Mel ran away."

"What?"

"She was at her grandparents. She bowed out of some brunch, and when they got home, she was gone. That's all I know."

"Oh my God," she breathes. "Oh my God. Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to the Brandons' to find out what the fuck happened and why they just told me this almost half an hour after she was due to arrive home!"

"Bella stayed home in case she comes back?" Her voice is shaking, and I can tell she's about to cry.

"Yeah. Her parents are on their way over, and as soon as they get there, Bella's going to come join me."

"Okay. I'll stop by and pick her up, and then we'll come meet you."

"Rose, you've got the kids. Stay home. I'll keep you informed."

"Bullshit, Edward!" she says, and I can tell she's full out crying now. "You're in charge of Mel, yes, but she's still my niece! I'm coming to meet you."

"Okay," I exhale, fisting the top of my hair. "Okay." I give her the Brandon's address and then quickly hang up because my phone is vibrating again. This time it's Carlisle.

"Yeah, Carlisle, thanks for calling me back."

"Your message said it was urgent. What's going on?"

"Mel's run away."

"What?"

"She was at her grandparents."

"But why?"

"I have no idea. She's been quiet since the anniversary, but I didn't think…anyway, I'm on my way over there to find out what happened. I keep calling her, and Bella's at home waiting, just in case, and I spoke to Rose."

"Have you contacted the police?"

"Charlie's got a couple of cop friends in the eighty-forth. He's giving them a call. Bella's getting pictures together."

"Alright, good. Can you think of where she may have gone?"

"I thought maybe Rose's, but Rose hasn't heard from her."

"Have you contacted her friends?"

"Bella's calling them."

"How 'bout the cemetery?"

"I don't know." I scrub a frustrated hand down my face. "I don't know," I breathe. "She's still not comfortable visiting there but…maybe."

"Alright, Esme and I will go take a look there, and if we don't find her, we'll scout the rest of the neighborhood. What do you think?"

"I think that's a good idea. Thanks, Carlisle."

"No problem, Edward. Do you know how long she's been gone?"

"A few hours, I don't know," I hiss through clenched teeth. "I just found out because her asshole grandparents were just hoping she'd turn up at our place."

"That's just…ridiculous. There should be repercussions for that afterwards, but for now, let's just focus on finding Mel."

I draw in a deep breath. "Okay."

OOOOOOOOOO

The fucking Brandons didn't even have fucking decency to call me themselves; instead, they had their asshole attorney, Aro Volt, call me.

There's some guy in a suit waiting for me when I reach the Central Park East address, just as Volt said there'd be. I hand him the keys to the truck, and he says he'll take care of it. Starts smiling and spewing some bullshit about parking being impossible to find, but one glare from me shuts him the fuck up.

Another guy in a long coat and top hat opens the door to the building, watching me warily.

"Edward Cullen. I need to see the Brandons."

"Certainly, Sir. I'll inform them you're here." He makes a phone call, speaking quietly into the phone.

"Follow me, Sir," he says, leading me to the elevators. It's all just as Mel described it to me a couple of times, the doorman turns a key inside the elevator, he looks at me again, a disinterested smile on his face. "Enjoy your evening, Sir."

"Fuck you," I want to say, but I'm keeping my anger for others.

The doors open up right into what looks like a huge living room with ancient furnishings that seem more appropriate for a museum than for someone's house. I immediately see the old bat that looks like an older, harder and bitchier version of Alice and Mel sitting regally in one of those upholstered museum chairs. Her husband sits in another chair across from her, and Aro Volt, the bane of my existence stands tall and stoically behind both their chairs.

He approaches me with a misplaced grin on his face, reaching his hand out. "Mr. Cullen."

I look down at his hand for one second and then walk past him straight to the two old fuckers.

"What the hell happened, and why wasn't I informed as soon as she disappeared?"

Mary Brandon holds my gaze, studying me the way I imagine a scientist would study a roach.

"Edward, we only discovered her missing once Alexander and I returned from brunch this afternoon. She claimed she wasn't feeling well and begged us to allow her to stay home from church this morning. You can imagine our surprise when we arrived and were informed by the morning doorman that she'd left almost right after us, claiming that we'd given her permission to 'hang out' in Central Park for the morning. As if we would ever do that?" she scoffs. "Though he really should have known better, don't your think, Alexander?" She addresses this last part to her husband.

"Yes, my Dear."

"Please make sure you speak to the building management about him," she instructs her husband, chin held high. "I want him held accountable."

"I will, Dear."

"As soon as you returned from church or brunch or whatever the hell and you saw she was missing," I hiss, "you needed to call me!" I tap my chest with my finger. "I'm her legal guardian! She is my child! Now she's been out there for hours on her own! Have you called the cops?"

"We didn't feel it would be appropriate just yet. She's only been gone for a few hours, and if anyone finds out what happened, it will be a huge embarrassment for Alexander and me."

"Are you stupid? Something could've happened to her! Do you even care?" I yell.

I feel more than see Aro approaching behind me, and I really hope the motherfucker isn't planning on touching me right now.

"We've had some private help searching for her, Mr. Cullen."

"Show him the note, Aro," Mary instructs.

He holds out a piece of paper to me, and I snatch it. It's just a few words in Mel's handwriting.

"Tell Aunt Bella and Uncle Edward that I love them, and I'm sorry."

My throat constricts painfully. I shove a clenched fist in my mouth to stifle the emotion raging to burst out.

I've never needed a drink as badly as I do in that moment.

"She has too much of both her father and mother in her," Mary replies dryly, shrugging her shoulders while she waves a jewel-encrusted hand my way. "Full of drama and impossible to control. Oh we've tried over the past year to mold her into a proper young lady, but she refuses to cooperate."

"Never mind stupid, are you fucking insane?" I look between the both of them. Mary stares back at me in shock while Alexander keeps his eyes on his wife. "Is that really all you care about? Finding someone you can fit into the mold that Alice refused? Do you think that's what your daughter would've wanted?"

The old bittie's eyes flash, and she scowls at me. "I don't know what your brother said to my daughter to brainwash her into leaving us and then into leaving the child with you, but at least she was smart enough to stipulate that the child should come with us once a month! She wanted us to have the child, but your brother tricked her!"

"Bullshit!" I yell louder. "I've been putting up with this bullshit for a year now! Alice gave you one weekend a month because 'til the very end, she hoped that someday you'd realize what you gave up and try to make amends through your grandchild, and Alice's heart was so big," I choke back my emotion and finish through clenched teeth, "Alice's heart was so big that 'til the very end, she was willing to give you a chance!"

Aro approaches again and stretches out a hand as if to restrain me. "Mr. Cullen, I'm going to have to ask you to calm down if you want to remain here."

"Aro, you lay that hand on me, you'd better be ready to lose it," I warn, keeping my eyes on an unblinking Mary Brandon.

He drops his hand.

"Whatever you said to Mel must've upset her so much that she's out there on her own," I say through clenched teeth, jerking a hand towards the door.

"What we said to her?" Mary sneers. "Mrs. Cope informs me that Melody was crying all weekend. Whatever upset her, Edward, upset her on your time."

I jerk my head back.

"The fact is," Mary Brandon smiles, "that Melody didn't want to go home today. That's why she ran away."

"Bullshit," I call again. "She's happy with us."

"Is she now? How can she possibly be happy in the life you've giving her? She's barely thirteen and already has to work," she says with clear disgust.

"After school, at my fiancée's dance studio," I smirk, "so she can learn some responsibility."

"With an alcoholic for an uncle," she spits scornfully, "and his whore live-in girlfriend."

"Don't you dare ever call Bella that word again," I grind through a tight jaw and point at Alexander. "You need to check your wife."

He doesn't even look my way.

"Your brother brainwashed our daughter, and now you and your fiancée are trying to do the same thing with Melody!"

I shake my head, unable to believe the shit I'm hearing. "I'm not going to waste any more time here on you when my niece is out there, alone and scared. You want to know something though? You didn't lose Al because Jasper brainwashed her. You lost her because she met someone who showed her what true, unconditional love really was: a love that doesn't judge or expect anything, a love that just accepts. That's how Bella and I love Mel."

Mary's back straightens. She glares at me through eyes the same color as Alice and Mel's, yet so different from theirs.

"Alice and Mel got all the heart from this gene pool, and as soon as I find my niece, I'm having a talk with a lawyer."

I turn to leave.

"Hold on a minute, Mr. Cullen," Aro says, blocking my way, but then he must see something in my face because he quickly moves.

OOOOOOOOOO

When I get downstairs, the guy in the suit is standing outside the building.

"Where's my fucking car?"

Wide-eyed, he hands me the keys and then jerks his chin towards the end of the block. I snatch the keys from him and start walking quickly.

"Edward!"

My heart skips a beat. When I turn around, Bella is running towards me. I sweep into her my arms, giving myself two seconds to revel in her warmth and scent and it just hit me: a few months ago, I'd be heading to nearest liquor store right now to deal with this. But now…with her…

With a deep breath, I force myself to pull back. "Anything?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "How about you?"

I shake my head as well. "Her grandparents are even bigger assholes than I'd ever suspected. They haven't called the cops because they didn't want the embarrassment."

Bella shakes her head disgustedly. Her eyes are rimmed in red, and I can tell she's been crying for a while. I only now notice Charlie and Emmett behind her.

"Well, we've got the cops at the eighty-forth all over it," Charlie assures me, clapping my shoulder in an attempt at comfort. "And I'll speak to my buddy and get the city cops here involved as well. We'll find her, Son, don't worry."

"Thanks, Charlie."

Bella nods, eyes on mine, but her bottom lip trembles.

"She left this." I hold the note out to Bella. She takes it and bursts into tears, clapping a hand over her mouth.

"I knew I should've spent more time with her this month. I wanted to, but that damn show, and then I…"

"Bella stop." I grip her shoulders. "Don't even think of blaming yourself for this."

"Edward's right, Bella," Emmett says. "Besides, right now we've all got to focus on finding her. Then you guys can figure out why she left."

I nod my agreement.

"Sue and Rose and the kids are back at your place," Emmett tells me, "just in case Mel shows up."

"And Angie and Ben are scouting the neighborhood," Bella adds.

"So are Carlisle and Esme."

"I know; I spoke to them," Bella confirms.

"I was thinking of checking out the park," I tell them all. "That's where she was supposedly going when she left."

"Alright, you and Bella go take a look in the park, and Emmett and I will make a few calls."

"Alright."

Bella and I cross into the park. By now it's full dark. There's no moon out tonight, and the only light is that from the lamps, casting dark shadows every few feet.

"Mel! Mel!" We call out, but there's no answer. We try her phone over and over. We talk to Rose and Charlie, but no one's heard from her. Carlisle says he checked out the cemetery, and it didn't look like anyone had been there. He stayed around a while but nothing. Now he's searching the Brooklyn streets. So are Ben and Angie. We ask people strolling and jogging by if they've seen the girl that Bella shows them on her phone, but no one's seen her.

I'm not sure how much time has passed when Bella sits heavily over a wooden park bench. She drops her head, but I can see the tears streaming down her face.

My head and heart pound frantically, and my hands shake. In another lifetime, I know what would make the shaking stop.

I offer her my hand to her, and she takes it, standing up and melting into my arms, sobbing.

"We'll find her, Baby." I try to soothe her though my entire system is gripped in terror. "We'll find her. Shhh."

"All these other stupid things," she cries quietly, shaking her head. "Eli and Renata and Felix. So meaningless."

I know what she means.

"Let's go find your Dad and those cops and see if we should head back to Brooklyn. Maybe she's on her way home," I say, and I can't even help the way my voice quivers. "Maybe she's realized that she's safe there."

Bella nods dejectedly, but then abruptly, her head shoots up.

"Oh my God," she cries. "Oh my God, where she's safe. Edward," she breathes, her brown eyes glistening, "I know where she is."

OOOOOOOOOO

The door opens easily though it should be locked. All the lights are off. I move quickly towards Studio 1, and Bella follows close. It's where they first danced together, where Mel has learned to spin and sway, where she spent the afternoon of her parent's anniversary…

And where she's lying in a corner, safe, asleep and curled up on herself.

When I flip on the light, Bella's breath hitches before a loud sob escapes her, and Mel sits up right away, appearing disoriented at first, but then staring at us wide-eyed.

She bursts into tears.

I rush over to her, relief, gratitude, and bewilderment washing over me in waves.

When I pick her up, she wraps herself around me, just like she used to when she was a little girl, safe and sound with her parents, and I'd just be visiting. She cries into my neck.

"You're okay; you're safe," I breathe, as much to her as to myself. "You're safe," I repeat.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Edward," she cries. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" I ask, my voice hoarse. "Why would you do this?"

She pulls back and looks at me through the saddest, blue eyes I've ever seen.

"I heard you and Aunt Bella the other night. You never wanted to be a father, and Bella never wanted to be responsible for me. I'm sorry I've made things so difficult for both of you, but I don't have anywhere to go. I'm sorry!"

It feels as if someone is squeezing my chest tightly. My throat burns when I swallow.

"Mel…" I shake my head, cupping her cheek while her tears continue falling. "Little girl." My voice breaks. "You only heard half our conversation, Mel."

"But you said-"

"Yes, I said I wasn't sure if I ever wanted children. And Bella said she wasn't looking for either one of us the day we walked into her life." She sobs louder, and I hold her chin between my fingers.

"But what you didn't hear was what we said afterwards. You didn't hear me say how happy I've been these past few months with you, with both of you, and you didn't hear Bella say that she loves you with all her heart and soul."

She blinks uncomprehendingly.

"Mel…" I run a hand down the length of her hair. "Mel, I haven't said it to you in a long, long time, since you were younger, and my only job was to make you laugh once in a while and let you sneak an extra hour of TV when your parents left me watching you, but Mel…I love you." She cries harder, her eyes squeezed together tightly while the tears roll down her cheeks. "I love you even more than I did back then because though you will always be your mom and dad's, you're mine now too. You're my daughter too. And no, I never asked for this, Mel. I didn't ask to lose my brother and your mom; I never asked to be responsible for a thirteen year old and neither did Bella." I take her hand and lay it over my heart. "But if you could see what's in here, and if would've heard the rest of that convo that you shouldn't have been listening to in the first place," – a flicker of a smile flashes over her face – "then you would see what you mean to me, and you would've heard Bella say that though she didn't ask for this, she wouldn't trade having you for anything in the world. Mel, it was Bella's love for you that brought us together. If she hadn't loved you the way she does, things would've never worked out between us because you are mine as much as if you'd been born that way. Do you understand that?"

She nods slowly as if absorbing every single word, and then wraps her arms around me again.

"I love you too, Uncle Ed."

I feel Bella next to us, and Mel must too because she pulls away and quickly throws herself into Bella's embrace, both of them crying.

"Mel, everything your uncle said, I couldn't have said it better," Bella chuckles. "I love you as if you were mine. You are mine. You're ours, Mel." She pulls her back. "You're ours," she smiles through her tears. "And we're yours. You're stuck with us, Kiddo."

Mel chuckles. "I love you too, Aunt Bella."

I draw in a few uneven breaths, and then I wrap up both of them in my arms. My family, and suddenly I feel as if…as if I could do this a thousand times as long as I have both of them by my side.

I feel fuller and happier than I've ever felt in my life.

"And you're punished 'til you're forty."

Mel laughs, but for once, doesn't fight me.

A/N: Thoughts?

Last chapter should be up on Friday. :)

Twitter: PattyRosa817

Link to 'Stories by PattyRose' is on my profile page.