Chapter 23 Bonus Scene

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Chapter 23 Bonus Scene
Charlie held onto Renée as they walked to their car. He was aware of Nonna walking behind them and not surprisingly, both Alec and Marcus had their arms hooked in hers. Whether that was done by their choice or hers he didn't know, but didn't figure it much mattered. Alice was crying softly as Jasper practically carried her to their car. It quite amazed him how close he felt to all of them, even though he hadn't seen any of them but a handful of times since Emma's baptism. He supposed the closeness came from experiencing what had just happened inside.

He was well aware of Bella's close friendship with Alec, and felt like he knew Jasper, Alice, and Marcus rather well, too, considering how fondly she talked about them. She was never one to gossip of course, but she did speak about them all frequently.

"Chief Swan," Alec respectfully called to him as they approached his car.

"Son, I do believe that after what we all went through tonight, you can call me Charlie," Charlie told him as he turned around.

Alec chuckled, though it was only to cover up his anxiousness. Nonna obviously could appreciate that and smiled at him. "Charlie," he began as he tried to get used to calling him by his name. "Do you...do you think they'll be okay?"

He wasn't entirely sure what exactly he was asking, only that he wanted someone to reassure him that two of his best friends would be able to move forward. Everything he'd heard tonight left him reeling and he knew it would take some time to come to grips with it all. He was never good with the sappy, sentimental shit, never had been, but he wanted nothing more than to run back inside and hug the shit out of both Bella and Edward.

The group stood around, all looking at Charlie as if he had all the answers. "Yes, Alec, they'll both be just fine. Edward has obviously been through a hell of a lot, more than anyone should ever have to go through, but he's stronger than I ever gave him credit for."

"So is Isabella," Nonna said immediately and left no doubt about her feelings on the matter.

"Yes, so is Bella. I can only imagine how hard it was for both of them to share what they did tonight," Charlie said quietly.

"Alec, man, we're just going to have to give them the time and the space Bella asked for. I know I have a thousand questions I want to ask and even more things I'd like to say, but I don't want to make things any harder for them than it already has been. I'm...I just can't believe..." Jasper said and then shook his head, too overwhelmed to say what he was trying to say.

Alice gave the group a sad, halfhearted smile as she led her husband back toward their car. Jasper's shoulders shook and the sounds of his heavy breathing faded as they walked farther away.

Charlie watched them, his heart heavy and with a frown on his face. "Alec, like Jasper said, time and space is what they need. They know we love them both and we all just have to trust the fact that if they need anything, they'll let us know."

"Cari," Nonna said as looked from Marcus to Alec. "I know what we heard tonight was hard and our hearts break for the pain Edward has suffered, but we have to look at the good that will come from this. He is inside with his family, hopefully repairing what has been broken for so long. He's let all of us in to his heart so that we can help him heal. This is a good thing; you must remember that. It is painful, yes, but it is beautiful as well."

"I just want to help," Alec said softly.

Nonna unhooked her arm from Marcus and kissed his cheek before turning toward Alec.

"We all do, Cari, but they will be fine. Trust my granddaughter. She will make sure Edward has what he needs to move past this," she said wisely.

With that, the two men said goodbye and walked to their respective cars leaving Charlie with his two favorite women. He was exhausted as hell, and emotionally drained on top of that, and wanted nothing more than to sit on the front porch in the swing with his wife.

"Fiore," he said softly as he looked down at Renée. "Are you ready to go home?"

He watched as she looked back toward the house and he could feel how hard it was for her to leave Bella and Edward inside, no matter how much they both knew they needed to.

He led both women to the car and once everyone was inside, headed for home. The first few minutes of the ride were completely silent, he hadn't even turned on the radio, and it seemed like no one even noticed really because they were all so deep in thought. When he heard Renée sniffle and then wipe beneath her eyes, he reached for her hand.

"It's going to be okay, Née," he told her softly as he rubbed gentle circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

She didn't turn from the window but she did squeezed his hand so he at least knew she was listening.

After a few more minutes passed and no one said anything, Renée finally spoke. She'd really said very little for most of the night, well once Edward started talking, she'd found she was unable to speak except for the occasional question.

"I..." she began and then had to clear her throat to clear it of the lump that had formed. "I don't know how to even begin to understand how Edward managed to survive what he did. How can someone be so selfish, so cruel, and to their own child no less?" she questioned and her voice began to shake again.

She then turned toward him and the look in her eyes, desperate as she pleaded with him to have an answer...one which he surely didn't have, about broke him.

"Renée, I've seen a lot in all my years as an officer of the law, seen just how capable human beings are when inflicting pain upon others, even ones they are supposed to or claim to love. I don't understand how people can do what they do and I surely don't understand how Edward's..." and here he stumbled because he damn sure wasn't going to call them parents. Breathing deeply, he forged on though. "I don't understand how those people," he practically spat, "could treat Edward the way they did. People have a tremendous capacity to hurt others, fiore, it's just a fact of life. All we can do now is try to help him and Bella as best we can."

"He's such a good man," she all but whispered back at him.

"Damn straight he is, and it's a miracle he is after what he's been through. I know he hasn't always been the easiest person to be around and I know I've questioned many times how Bella could love him the way she always has, but there is no question in my mind...at all...that they belong together," Charlie said as his mind began to drift a bit.

He was as angry as he had ever been toward the two despicable people who brought Edward into this world, but he was almost as angry at Carlisle and Esme, too. He didn't know the particulars of what happened to cause the strain between them and Edward, he didn't need to. After listening to what Edward had had to endure before Carlisle and Esme took him in, he just couldn't understand why they didn't wrap him up in the safety, security, and unconditional love he had so desperately needed.

"Well," Renée said softly, "he's a Swan as much as he's a Cullen, so we'll help him get past this."

Charlie smiled tenderly at her, but didn't say anything. He merely nodded his head at her and then looked in the rearview mirror at Nonna. Her eyes were closed, but he knew she wasn't sleeping. Her lips were moving and he knew she was praying.

He only hoped that she asked for the strength to help Edward and Bella, and that her prayer was answered.

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