The days leading up to the hearing blended together in a fuzzy way. I drank more than I ever did before trying to numb the pain and fear. There were days I felt like giving up and disappearing. Hell, that was the majority of the past two weeks. How I was able to survive this was a mystery and my own personal hell; I was losing my baby girl for good.

When the day finally came to board the plane, I treated it much like how I do work. I walked out of my house leaving my problems there. The suitcase I carried held my clothes and dress shoes and nothing else. I was leaving behind everything when I shut and locked the door; I had to be a respectable man and father if I didn't want to loss my one and only daughter. No one could know I drank a little too much now and then.

Throughout my flight, I sat on the plane hoping to make a good impression in court. The flight from Washington to Oregon seemed longer than it should have with annoying chit-chat from the woman and her very loud husband who sat beside me. I was filled with anxious thoughts and resisted asking the flight attendant for an alcoholic beverage. Instead, I requested coffee and soda. Loading up on caffeine I rehearsed apologies in my mind trying to find the right words to express my regret and my love for my daughter. My plan was to bring her home where she belonged.

When I arrived at the Air B I was relieved to be there but depressed I was by myself once again. I was always alone even when I was in a crowded room I felt I was on my own. It was a terrible feeling I had since Renee died. Not even bothering to turn on the TV I headed straight for bed.

Morning came too soon. Whether I was ready or not, today was the day. I put on my best suit, hoping to make a good impression, and left the Air B feeling confident. I felt the same way on my ride to my destination. However, as I sat in my rented car outside the courthouse in the parking lot, my heart was pounding. This was it. I was about to see Bella for the first time in almost a year. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. I had to do this. I had to make things right and bring her home.

Walking into the courthouse, I felt a mix of anxiety and determination. I robotically went through the motions as I went through security and rode the elevator to the second floor. Not much stood out until I was where I needed to be. The Cullen family, minus Alice and Jasper, were in the stands there to support Bella. It didn't surprise me that she had run away to be with them. At least she had been in good hands all this time. As Bella and I were called to stand before the judge I quickly glanced at all of them, none of them held the baby, I wondered where it was. Moving along I spotted Bella sitting before the judge with her lawyer now, looking more mature and resolute than I remembered. My heart ached with both pride and sorrow. She looked so grown up, so strong.

In a blur, the hearing began and Bella's lawyer presented her case for emancipation. I listened, my heart heavy with regret. Everything her lawyer said about me that took place over the last 7 years was true. Up until this moment, I had no idea my drinking and outbursts of anger had affected Bella so greatly. She was in counseling to process and work through the trauma I had unwillingly inflicted on her. Hearing that was a blow to the gut. I hurt her more than I had previously realized. Despite everything she had been through, she seemed to be doing well.

When it was my turn to speak, I stood up, my voice trembling with emotion. "Your honor," I began. "I made a mistake. I was scared and I acted out of fear. I love my daughter and I want to support her. If emancipation is what she needs, I won't stand in her way, but I hope she knows I'm here for her no matter what. I will always be."

The judge listened carefully and after considering both sides, made a decision to proceed with emancipation. He gave us a final court date in 60 days, which I began to dread. Upon Bella being able to prove she was in a position to care for herself she would be granted the decision she wanted. There wasn't a shadow of a doubt in my, that things would go her way.

After the hearing, I approached Bella in the hall. Edward was by her side but quickly excused himself when he saw me walking toward her.

"Bella, can we talk?" I asked softly.

She hesitant then spoke, "Sure."

We walked down the corridor keeping our distance. After a few seconds, we found a quiet corner and sat down on a bench.

"I want to start by saying I'm sorry. For everything," I said, my voice breaking. "I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to protect you. I was wrong and I regret everything I said and did."

Bella looked at me, her brown eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. "I know, Dad. I needed to make my own choices, you couldn't make them for me. That's why I need to be free; I can't live with you."

I nodded, understanding. "I get that now. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, whatever you need."

"Okay." She said automatically.

"You've been doing well?" I wanted to know.

"Yeah." Bella nodded her head woodenly.

Her responses were clipped and I understood why. I had broken her trust and she wasn't sure if she should have a real conversation with me. Still, I wanted to keep talking to her. After all, this might be my only chance to speak to her until I saw her at the next and final hearing…60 days from now.

"When did you have your baby?" I asked awkwardly.

"October 5th." She simply said.

I smiled at her. "Congratulations. How's the baby doing?"

"He's good." She said as her eyes drifted to the floor.

"He?" I questioned excitedly. "You have a little boy?"

Bella took a deep breath. "I do. His name's Anthony and he's two months old."

I saw a light in her eyes that was filled with love. She briefly talked about her son and her whole face lit up. In this moment she reminded me of her mother and my heart broke in more ways than one. Before I was able to think about how disappointed Renee would have been with me, Bella's eyes met mine.

"Would you? Well…um… Would you maybe like to meet him sometime?" She wondered hopefully.

I nodded my head. "I would like that a lot."

She chewed on her lower lip like she always did when she was lost in thought. It's a nervous tick she developed as a toddler. Up until this moment, I didn't realize how much I missed every about her.

"How long will you be in town?" She wondered, her brown eyes boring into me.

"I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon." I replied and quickly added, "I have to work. Otherwise, I would stick around and sightsee."

Bella's expression softened. "How about dinner tonight? We can meet at a restaurant and then you can meet him."

"That sounds good." I smiled.

Bella smiled too, but then her grin quickly disappeared. "It won't just be you, me, and Anthony. Edward will be there too. Possibly even his parents or one of his siblings and their significant other. They won't want Anthony and I to go alone."

She didn't trust me enough to be alone with me. That hurt, but I understood why. I decide to not take this personally.

"That's fine," I said.

Bella bit her lip, struggling to maintain eye contact. My heart pounded in my chest as I realized she had more to say. I wasn't sure what she was holding back, but I wanted to hear it.

"What else do you want to tell me?" I asked.

Her eyes were cast downward and her fingers neveriouly played with the hem of her blouse. "Umm… Well, I have a condition to make. About you meeting my son, I mean." She began in an unsure tone.

"A condition?" I wondered out loud. My words were more of a question to myself than to her.

"It's more of a promise. Really." She quickly spoke. "Maybe you can promise me not to drink around my baby. I know that's a lot to ask you and I would prefer you don't drink at all. However, I know that's too big of a demand to make. So, all I can ask is no alcohol around him. Can you do that, just this once please?" Her brown eyes looked up at me.

It was easy to see how much she didn't want me to drink. It was also easy for me to see how much my drinking had caused her pain. Pain she didn't want her son to know.

"I can do that," I promised, meaning it.

"Great. Let me call you so you have my number." She pulled out her phone from her purse. The corners of her mouth were tugging upward into a smile.

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I hope you enjoyed the second chapter. There are 4 chapters left. :)