Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters.

June 1st, 1941…

Bella

"Izzy! There's a package for you!"

I stopped mid-sentence in my letter to Edward as Esme shouted from the first floor. Package? I wasn't expecting a package at all. Leaving my pen on the table, I stood up and made my way downstairs, the skirts of my dress swaying with every step I took.

Esme was in the living room holding an envelope in her hand, a box sitting on the coffee table.

"What is it?" I asked.

Esme looked at me and there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.

"It's from your father."

I stopped misstep, taken aback. It was from my father? My father and I haven't spoken, much less written to each other since they left last December. Esme handed me the envelope and I recognized his handwriting. It was him. My heart started beating rapidly in my chest. Why would he write? Why now? To what end? He made it perfectly clear that he did not want to have anything to do with me if I chose to continue my relationship with Edward, and at that time it was only friendship. Had he found out about our marriage? Was he writing to tell me I was dead to him?

"Take a seat, sweetheart," Esme said, pointing to the couch.

I nodded, unable to say anything and took a seat. It was getting a little harder now with my growing belly. Esme took a seat on the couch next to me, waiting for whatever I decided to do.

I swallowed back, my mouth suddenly dry and ripped into the envelope, pulling out the letter.

Dear Isabella,

I know I must be the last person in the world you want to hear from given how we left things back in December. Well, given how I left things the last time we saw each other.

Weeks after we came back from Pearl Harbor, I received a letter from Carlisle where he informed me of your marriage to that boy. He urged me to set my pride aside and to not allow my animosity for his family break our family apart. Honestly, at the time, my anger got the best of me. I couldn't imagine ever being okay with you being tied to that family forever and I've been more than set on my ways to keep my word and never speak to you again.

However, your mother recently got a letter from your sister Alice. She has been in contact with your sister since she married the Whitlock boy, and in her recent letter she shared the news of your pregnancy.

I must say, the regret I felt as soon as I learned of your pregnancy was one I have never felt before.

I must say, Isabella, I have never felt more ashamed of my behavior like I am now.

I've always wanted what was best for you, Isabella. I wanted more than for you to be happy, married to a nice man and have the family you deserve. And I also imagined I'd be there to guide you through the whole process and I've now realized how I failed. I failed you as your father, and for that I am truly sorry, sweetheart. I know I've never been an easy person to deal with. I know I've left much to be desired, but I am now here, swallowing my pride, asking you to give your father a second chance. I would love more than anything to set things right.

I know the boy is currently overseas and cannot be there, and the thought of you going through your pregnancy on your own pains me. Know, my darling, that you are not alone. Your mother and I would very much like to be a part of your life and our grandchild's, if you'll allow us. The decision is yours.

I'm also trying to patch things up with your sister. She'll be coming home with her husband in September for your mother's birthday. I really do hope you'll join us and we will have a chance to talk.

The box is a little something your mother and I bought for you and the baby. Things you'll both need.

I hope to hear from you, sweetheart.

Love,

Dad.

The paper crinkled under my fingers as I folded it again. My father wanted to reconcile now? After what he said? After what happened? A part of me wanted to believe him. I wanted nothing more than for my father to be an active part of my life, of my baby's life, but how can he be if he can't even write out Edward's name? There have been moments in the last couple months where I've longed for my mother as well, for her wisdom especially now that I'm about to have a baby.

"He wants to be a part of my life again," I said, looking at Esme. "He knows about my pregnancy and he wants to be a part of my life again."

Esme stayed quiet for a moment, going over her thoughts.

"What do you think?" Esme asked, leaning her chin on the palm of her hand.

"I… I don't know. I want my family, of course I do, but only if they will accept Edward as well."

"Well, if your father wants to be a part of your life now, especially now that there's a little baby on the way, then he must know he must set his pride aside for any anger he may hold against Edward and our family. I may not know why your father hates Edward's father so much, but I do know this." Esme reached over and took my hand. "We are in difficult times right now. At this time, we all need to be together, to lean on each other more than ever. You don't have to make a decision now, sweetheart. Think about it. Sleep on it and think about it some more. You are under no obligation to respond right away."

She was right. These were trying times. We were in the middle of an active war and many men, fathers, husbands and sons were out there fighting it in hopes of coming back.

I reached for the box and opened it using the blade Esme gave me. There were two baby blankets that I knew my mother had knitted, as well as baby clothes and bonnets. My heart melted and tear's picked in my eyes as I brought the soft blanket up to my nose and I could almost smell my mother on them.

Could I really miss the opportunity to reconcile with them? To be with my family one more time?

There was too much to consider.

Esme was right.

I needed to take my time and think things through, and decide whether bringing my father back into our lives was the right decision.

Days went by, weeks even and I was still unsure of what to do. Another box arrived with more clothing for both me and the baby. Fortunately there wasn't another letter from my father, but there was one from my mother, detailing different things I needed to know about what to expect from my pregnancy and remedies for different symptoms, as well as encouraging words for the hard times we've been facing.

You are brave. You are strong. You are a fighter.

They were words I needed to hear, especially from my own mother.

Edward's letters kept coming, much to my relief. But he never shared any details about what he was going through on the other side of the world. Whatever horrors he may have witnessed, heard or experienced, he never said, and a part of me knew he wanted to spare me that pain. Most of his letters expressed his wishes to come home, asking about my well-being as well as our baby's. I didn't share with him the ongoing struggle I had with deciding to let my father back into my life, I figured he had more important things to worry about than a petty feud between our families.

"You look awfully thoughtful, sweetheart," Mr. Garner said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I gave him an apologetic smile, heat rushing to my cheeks.

"I apologize, Mr. Garner, what did you say?"

The old man laughed, waving it off before resting his hand back on the bed. He'd been in and out of the hospital for months now, his weakening heart keeping him here more often than home.

"What's on your mind? Come on, tell old Uncle Will what's got you so thoughtful."

"I shouldn't really bother you with my personal problems, Mr. Garner," I said, jotting down in his chart the last thing I remember him telling me.

"Please, do bother me with it. It's awfully boring here."

"I'll be sure to let the doctor know to make his visits more entertaining."

"Oh, you know I'm kidding. Now, is it your baby's father? Is he not manning up to his responsibilities?"

"No, of course not." I hold the chart against my chest, the bottom of it resting on my growing belly. "The father is being very responsible. He made sure I was cared for and looked after while he's out there fighting the war."

Mr. Garner's light blue eyes soften.

"He's a brave man, all of them are. But don't you worry, okay? He will make it back to you safe and sound."

"I appreciate it, Mr. Garner. As worried as I constantly am for my husband's safety, I'm afraid that's now what was plaguing my mind just now."

"What is it then?"

"My father." I pointed to the chair next to his bedside and asked, "May I?"

Mr. Garner nodded, making himself more comfortable on his as I pulled the chair close, carefully plopping down on it.

"There's some unknown feud between my husband's family and mine, and when my father found out that I was acquainted with my husband, he gave me an ultimatum. Either I stopped seeing Edward or he would cut me off completely. I went against my father's wishes. I didn't see why Edward should be punished for whatever it was his father did, so my own father punished me. He cut me off and I hadn't heard from him since then. Only now, he knows I am expecting and he has reached out trying to make amends and asking for a second chance at making things right, but I'm having a hard time deciding if I wanted to give him that second chance or not. A part of me does, another doesn't and I'm constantly at a battle."

Mr. Garner hummed to himself, drumming his fingers against his belly.

"Can I ask, what does that part of you that wants to mend your relationship with your father think? What does she want?"

I sat back on the chair.

What did she want?

"Her family." The answer was simple. "I want my family. And while Edward's family has been wonderful to me, with the exception of his mother, a part of me still longs for my family. For my mother and my father."

"And what about the part that doesn't?"

"My father does not like my husband, of that much I am sure, and he doesn't like him enough to actually cut me off." I paused, biting my lower lip. "As much as I want him in my life, how can I if he will never accept my husband? I cannot live with the hostilities. I cannot have two separate families, but I'm not sure if my father's pride will allow him."

Mr. Garner hummed to himself, going over my words.

"Then why don't you try and find out what exactly happened between your families that made your father dislike them so much? Perhaps then, you will see if there's a chance to salvage that relationship."

"No one is willing to share that information," I said. "Edward's uncles don't know, his mother doesn't like me and I doubt my father will give that information up willingly. I already know my mother would never go against my father's wishes."

"There must be someone, sweetheart. Someone must know and it's something you must know as well if you truly want to see if it's worth mending that relationship with your father. No relationship can truly be salvaged if there's secrets involved."

At that moment, I wished it was as simple as Mr. Garner was putting it. But who else would know? Who else would have that kind of insight as to what happened before I was even born?

The days that followed, I spent them going over any possible link that could lead me to the answers. Growing up, I never heard about any family members we might've had outside of Forks. For the longest time, I thought it was just my parents. Not even grandparents.

I stopped mid chop when Mrs. Cullen's words from the day she confronted me echoed in the back of my mind:

"Do you honestly think that it can be prevented by a young woman of inferior status, whose parents' indiscretion resulted in a poorly patched up marriage that was only ever achieved at the expense of your uncle?"

Uncle. She said your uncle.

Mr. Garner was right. There was someone who could possibly give me the answers I was looking for, and it was someone I had no idea ever existed.

And I knew where exactly to look.

Author's Note:

Sorry for the delay! My dog just had puppies last Saturday and they've kept me busy! But here is the new chapter. Wonder if Bella is going to find said Uncle?