Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters.
All mistakes are mine.
September 20, 1942…
Bella
My mother and Alice were at my father's bedside when Edward rolled us in. He was awake, propped up by some pillows and holding each of their hands. Edward stopped at the door and gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, and when I looked at him, he gave me a questioning look. I knew that if I asked him to take me away from my father's room and take us back to Pearl Harbor to never look back, he would.
But I needed this. I couldn't leave without at least saying goodbye to him.
"Could you give us a moment?" My father asked, looking at my mother, his voice hoarse from sleep.
My mother nodded and both she and Alice stood, stopping to give me and Anthony - who slept in my arms - a kiss on their way out the door. Alice gave Edward a slight shoulder squeeze as she walked past him and he gave her a curt nod, a knowing look on his face as they were waiting to have a much needed conversation.
Edward rolled me to my father's bedside. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and just as he was turning to walk away, my father said, "I would like for you to stay."
"He will not stay if you plan to antagonize him," I said.
"I'm not going to antagonize him, Izzy," my father said, an exhausted look on his face. He looked up, his eyes meeting Edward's and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. "I want to thank you for saving my life, even when I haven't given you much reason to."
"You're Bella's father. As much as you may hate me, I knew your death would cause her great pain and I couldn't allow that," Edward said. "I did it for her."
I reached for Edward's hand with my free one and pulled our clasped hands on my chest, over my beating heart.
My father nodded, clasping his hands together on his lap.
"I know that." My father's jaw flexed and his eyes landed where I held Anthony in my arms. "I owe you both an apology. I allowed my anger to cloud my judgment and fuel a prejudice I had formed against you, Edward, for things your father did to two people who I have loved and cared for for years. I was afraid for my daughter. I was afraid she'd fall victim to a fate similar to her mother's or that she'd be stuck in a loveless marriage with a husband who fooled around behind her back, and in that fear, I have acted like such a bastard. I fear both Jane and I fueled each other's anger, validated what we felt so much so, I couldn't see how misguided I was. But I never wished for you to be dead. In a moment of anger perhaps it was a passing thought, but deep down, I've only wanted what was best for my daughter. But I shouldn't have allowed for this to have gone as far as it has, especially not Jane. And for that, I am deeply sorry."
It was uneasy to see my father like that. I'd always known my father to be a proud man, set in his ways. It was hard to think that the man who was laid up in that bed was now apologizing for his behavior, something I didn't think he was capable of doing.
"All is forgiven on my part," Edward said. "But whether or not you have a place in our lives, especially our son's, that is up to Bella."
My father looked at me then. I bit the inside of my cheek and looked down at my son, who was still blissfully sleeping in my arms.
"Could you give us a moment?" I asked Edward, looking up at him.
Edward nodded, leaning down and pressing a kiss on the top of my head before giving one to Anthony. I waited until the door clicked softly behind him before turning back to my father.
"Do you want to hold him?" I asked, gesturing to Anthony.
My father looked taken aback by my words, but after a moment, he nodded eagerly. I stood slowly and my father met me halfway. A soft sigh escaped him as I placed Anthony in his arms and there was a softness there I rarely got to witness before. His throat bobbed as he took in Anthony and I could see the glistening of tears in his eyes.
"He reminds me so much of you when you were born," he said, bouncing him lightly. "That little pout, yes, you definitely got that from your mother. You had that same pout when you were an infant, Izzy."
"That pout may be mine, but the rest of him is all Edward. Including the hair."
My father chuckled lightly, still not looking away from Anthony.
"He's beautiful, isn't he?" I asked, my voice breaking.
My father nods.
"I'd hate for him to grow up and have to pay for my mistakes, or Edward's. I'd hate for someone to do to him the same way we have done to Edward."
My father looked at me then, confusion etched in his features.
"The day I got married, Alice told me how lucky we both were to have found Jasper and Edward so soon. Literally on our very first day at the Harbor. But I didn't have the same experience as she did, she knew she wanted Jasper the second she laid eyes on him. But me? I was blinded. I was blind by my own pride and my prejudice. It took me a long time for me to realize I was in love with him and by the time I did, I almost lost him. Then he was shipped off to war and I almost lost him again. The only thing I wanted was for him to come home, and when he did, he was met at gunpoint. Our entire relationship has been one battle after the next and it shouldn't have been that way.
"I cannot let you sit here and think you are the only one who has judged him because that is not true. We misjudged him, father, me more than anyone and in every way, not just in this matter. I've been nonsensical. And yes, he has been a fool too, but then so have I." I wiped the tears from my cheek and gave my father a shrug. "You know, he and I are… we are so similar. We've both been so stubborn, that I…"
"You really do love him, do you?" He asked, his voice quiet.
I nodded, unable to form the words as they got caught in my throat.
My father chuckled to himself and looked down at Anthony as he said, "I cannot believe that anyone could deserve you. But it seems I am overruled. I accept I made mistakes and I will take accountability for them, Isabella. And if you decide you do not want me in your life… as much as it will hurt, I will accept that."
"I cannot make a decision now," I finally said. "But what I do know is that trust can be built and perhaps over time, things will have changed. It is all I ask for, father, time. I just need time."
"Then time is what I'll give you," he said. "Anything to get to be a part of your life once more."
"Are you okay?" Edward asked as he rolled us down the halls of the hospital.
"It was very emotional," I said. "But I suppose I do feel some relief that my relationship with my father isn't entirely torn."
"You'll mend it, love." He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.
We turned the corner, coming face to face with a group of people waiting for us near the entrance. Mom and Alice were in deep conversation with Esme and Carlisle, so the only person who noticed us was Marcus.
He stepped away quietly from the group and approached us. I was shocked to see he was here. I'd thought he'd be with his mother's lawyer or at least visiting her in jail.
"Edward, this is Marcus-"
"We've been introduced," Marcus said, an awkward smile playing on his lips.
"You have?"
"This morning, love," Edward said, coming to stand next to me. "Your mother made the introductions."
"Oh."
"I came to see your father," Marcus said. "And offer my apologies, which I believe I should also be offering them to you since the person my mother was aiming for was your husband."
"You do not need to offer any apologies on her behalf, Marcus," I said.
"I feel as if I should. I've learned some things from her these last couple of days… plans she had that even involved me and I… Izzy, trust, I had no idea where my mother was coming from. Yes, there was a point where I did harbor feelings for you, but it was never to the point where I wished harm to your husband. I am truly sorry. To both of you."
"It is not my apology to accept," Edward said. "It's Bella's."
"Bella?" Marcus looked at me. "You go by Bella now?"
"Edward is the only one who calls me Bella."
"But you can call her Mrs. Cullen if you'd like," Edward added, earning a slap on the gut from me.
Marcus looked unfazed.
"Izzy is fine. But I believe you, Marcus, and I'm sorry about your mother. As shocking as it may sound, I do hope for the best."
"Thank you, Izzy." He made a move to lean in for a kiss on the cheek, but changed his mind when Edward cleared his throat rather loudly, earning an eye roll from me. Instead, Marcus gave me a gentle squeeze on the shoulder and offered Edward his hand, which he took. "And thank you for earlier. I'll keep it in mind."
Edward nodded, and with one last smile, Marcus walked down the hall toward my father's room. I waited until the door was shut behind him before turning to Edward and asked, "Keep what in mind?"
"Well, he is my half brother. I told him regardless of the fact that his mother hates my very existence and was after my untimely death, I wouldn't be opposed to having a relationship. I also gave him our number in case he needed anything or wanted to reach out," Edward said and then gave a slight shrug as if it was nothing.
"So, what was the whole Mrs. Cullen thing?"
Edward shrugged again. "Sibling rivalry?"
I laughed.
"You are unbelievable."
"Speaking of sibling rivalry." Alice approached us, her arms crossed over her chest. "I need to speak to the both of you."
Carlisle had told us earlier than my mother had confessed the truth about Alice's parentage when my father was first taken to surgery, given she thought he was about to die. Neither Edward nor I have had the chance to speak to her since she was digesting all the information our mother suddenly dumped on her, but it looked like she was ready to talk.
I gave her a nod to go ahead, the floor was hers.
"I'm still trying to wrap my mind around everything my mother has told me," Alice said, her eyes going from Edward to me and back to Edward. "I'm not so easily shocked."
"Alice, if you need more time before we have this conversation-" Edward started.
"I appreciate that, Edward, but time is for the people who do not know what to make of the situation. Yes, it is shocking to learn that the man who has raised me my entire life is not my biological father, but… it doesn't change anything for me. I don't care he is not my biological father, I care that he is my father regardless. Yes, he is very much flawed and I have my own issues to resolve with him, but the fact that we do not share blood matters not to me. I know you told Marcus you wouldn't be opposed to a familial relationship with him given you are half brothers and his mother is more than likely going to jail, but I'm afraid I am more fitted for a Swan than a Cullen. Izzy is my sister and Charlie is my father. Learning what I have does not change that."
Edward nodded, reaching for my hand.
"And I will respect that."
Alice smiled.
"Thank you." She turned to me and leaned down, pressing a kiss on my cheek and then one on Anthony's head. "You will always be my sister, no matter what. And you deserve all the happiness in the world, Iz."
I cupped my sister's cheek, wiping away the single tear that escaped from the corner of her eye.
"And you'll always be mine."
Not long after, I was saying my goodbyes to my family at the entrance of the hospital. My mother insisted on Edward and I staying longer in Forks, but we were both very eager to make it back home. Back to Pearl Harbor. I wasn't sure when I would see my mother or father again. I was sure that as long as I asked for time and distance from my father, my mother would follow suit. It was bittersweet, to say the least.
But I decided to focus on what really mattered in those moments. And that was Edward and our little boy, Anthony, and as long as I had them both by my side, nothing else mattered.
Edward
September 2, 1945…
The joy was everywhere. You could feel it in the air, hear it for miles on end as the earth shook beneath our feet as the world celebrated the end of the war. It was in Esme's faint cries from the kitchen and Carlisle's as he held her, both relieved that their son was going to finally come home.
We lost many friends in the war. Emmet being among one of them. I could still remember the day Bella told me after she'd received a letter from Rosalie. He had left behind a little girl named Chloe. Since his passing, Bella has kept constant contact with Rosalie and we have gone down several times to Oregon to see them. Little Chloe is the spitting image of her father and my heart ached for Emmett every time I set eyes on her. I couldn't imagine not being able to see my own son grow up, to not have been there for all those magical moments I have been blessed to witness.
Alice and Jasper eventually moved to Forks to be closer to Bella's family. True to her word, the truth of Alice's parentage only solidified the bond she had with Renee and Charlie, and based on the letters she and my wife have exchanged, it seemed they became closer than they were before. Bella is still set on keeping her distance from her family. The wounds of her father's behavior and what happened with Jane were still very much present, but she still sends them letters and updates about Anthony. While I know she misses them greatly and would love to see them again, I don't push her. I know with time she will come to that herself.
Jane was sent to jail for attempted murder. Marcus tried his best to help his mother, but regardless, he couldn't save her from the law. He reached out about a year after the incident, wanting to know more about our father and I decided to invite him over to Pearl Harbor, where he met our sister Kate - who finally moved here to be away from our mother. Since then we have kept in constant contact and he would occasionally come and visit, even sometimes hinting at staying in Pearl Harbor indefinitely.
Unfortunately, my mother was a lost cause and since she made it very clear she would never accept my marriage to Bella or accept our son, I cut all ties with her. Kate has kept me up to date with everything going on back home in the letters she receives from our mother, but other than that, I've been firm on not contacting her.
I heard her steps on the wooden porch before she sat on the porch steps next to me. She slid her hand over my shoulders, up the back of my neck as her fingers threaded through my hair. When I looked at her, my wife, the mother of my child, I felt that familiar tug in my chest. That irrevocable, unconditional love I've felt for her from the moment I met her.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"It's really hard to put into words," I said, leaning into her touch. It was all a swirl of emotion that it was hard to pinpoint what I felt. I feel like I should be happy, I should be relieved that the war is finally over, but there was also a great sense of anger. "I'm just glad Seth is coming home."
"And?"
I smiled then. She knew me better than I knew myself.
"I'm angry," I said, my voice hoarse. Her eyes softened and she nodded slightly, encouraging me to keep going. "I'm angry for Jasper and for all he has been through since the attack, since he lost his leg. I'm angry for Seth. He was just a kid and he has seen things no kid his age should. And while I know he has stayed there by his own volition, I also know the Seth who is coming home will not be the same Seth we knew. And then there's Emmett. When I think about Chloe… I get so angry thinking he isn't here to see her grow up, to have even met her… and when I see Rosalie, I can't help but feel so scared at the thought that could've been you. Had I died when my plane went down-"
"But you didn't-"
"And I can't understand why I got the better end of the stick out of everyone," I continued, tears welling up in my eyes. "They were all better men than I was, and yet I was able to go by this war unscathed and… I can't understand why I got that privilege."
Bella wiped away the tear that slid down my cheek. Her eyes glistened as well as she cupped my cheek in her hand and brought my face closer to hers, resting our foreheads together.
"If it'd been up to me, I would've never signed up for the military," I said. "I wanted to be a musician when I was a child."
"But you did it for your family," she whispered.
"And because I knew it was what my father would've wanted. But I am selfish, you know?"
Bella tilted her head with a questioning look.
"The only good thing that ever came out of me enlisting is that I got to meet you. I wouldn't change that for the world."
"I wouldn't either." Bella pressed a kiss on the tip of my nose. "I don't know why it was different for you. But you are a good man, Edward, and you have stood by your friends when they've needed you the most. You look after Rosalie and her little girl, you've been there for Jasper when he has needed you and I know for a fact that you will help Seth adjust back home, and he will be okay because you will be here for him and you will make sure of it. You are a good man, Edward, and do you want to know why I am so sure of it?"
I nodded.
"Because Anthony will grow up happy and loved, and he will be the man he is supposed to be. A good man, a man who knows what he wants and will set out to get it and he'll be able to do that because he has a father who will support him and guide him every step of the way."
I really, really hoped she was right.
I pressed a hard kiss on her lips and Bella hummed, then scrunched her nose as she pulled away.
"I gotta check on Anthony." She pecked my lips once more. "And you better hide that carton of cigarettes because if I find them, I will flush them down the toilet."
Busted.
I'd hope the smell had dissipated before she came outside.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Bella gave me a playful eye roll before going back inside. Tucking the carton in my pocket, I followed after her. Esme was in the kitchen with Anthony in her arms and my little boy's eyes lit up the second he saw his mother walk in.
His face may be all Bella with his cute little button nose and chubby cheeks, but those eyes and hair were mine. Bella lifted our little boy in her arms, kissing him over and over again on his chubby cheeks and the room was filled with our son's laughter. Esme talked to Bella about dinner as Bella held our son, swaying side to side, barely paying any attention to what Esme was saying as she looked at Anthony.
And I stayed right where I was, leaning against the door frame and thanking my lucky stars for my family. Because as unworthy I've felt of them and the blessings I'd been given, I would never take them for granted.
Bella and I fought each other relentlessly when we first met. It was a constant tug of war that neither of us was willing to give in. Then, the game changed. Bella and I went from fighting each other, to fighting for each other as the obstacles between us became harder to surpass.
But we did it. We overcame it.
And now, we face the world together, side by side, as it always should've been and always will be.
Forever.
The End.
Author's Note:
And we are done! I am sorry it took me a minute to get this final chapter out. I got hit with a pretty rough depressive episode and the writer's block was tough, but I did the best I could so I hope you guys enjoyed it. Thank you all for all your reviews, they truly make me so happy. I will keep posting TLUT though, I am also focusing on a new story so keep an eye out for that because it will be coming soon.
Love you all! You're the best!
~Joan0324