Chapter 21: Getting married and one night.

Bella wiped a stray tear away as Angela and Jessica helped her with the finishing touches on her dress.

"oh, Bella, you look so beautiful! I still can't believe you're getting married and to that hunk of a man out there! I mean come on first Edward now this guy. Where do you find them?"

Bella shrugged bashfully.

"jess!" Angela hissed. She then turned to Bella and smiled saying "What jess means is Bella is that Paul is great. He's a gentleman and he cares about you; we just didn't expect you to get married so early. but that's neither here nor there. We are happy for you."

With that said, Angela turned Bella towards the mirror, and she gasped.

"oh my gosh!" Bella Exclaimed. She had never seen herself look so good. Her dress was floor length with white spaghetti straps. Her hair had been put up into a curly ponytail and her face was framed with bangs.

"you look so beautiful." A voice said

All three girls turned to see Renee Dwyer standing in the doorway.

"Mom!"

Renee smiled as she took in her daughter.

"oh, baby girl, I've never seen you so gorgeous. Girls may I talk to my daughter alone please?"

Angela and Jessica nodded, leaving the mother and daughter to themselves.

"mom…you're here." Bella said completely dumbfounded. She had just seen her mother a few hours ago.

"Of course, I'm here darling. I couldn't miss my little girl's wedding."

Bella went to ask another question, but Renee shook her head.

"no more questions. Todays your wedding day. Enjoy it! now you need something borrowed and something blue. So, I brought Grandma Marie's hairpin."

Bella Gasped. Grandma Marie's hairpin was a family heirloom and it was given to every swan bride at their wedding. She never thought she would get it.

"I'm not going to lie honey. I'm terrified for you, but you have a good head on your shoulders and an even better man. I've seen the way Paul looks at you and Baby doll, you are his world. Your father-"Renee stopped as tears filled her eyes.

"your father never looked at me the way that Paul does you. So you make sure you love that man with every breath you breathe. Now, let's get you married."

…

Renee Escorted Bella to the beginning of the aisle and stepped away. She couldn't see anything in front of her because her view was blocked by a wooden doorway and hanging from it was a dark blue curtain that you couldn't see out of.

"mom? Where are you going?"

Renee smiled and said "to my seat. You didn't think I was going to walk you down the aisle, did you?"

"That would be my job."

Bella turned and gasp. Standing there, wearing a dark suit and his hair slicked back was Seth Clearwater.

"Seth!" she cheered as she launched herself into his arms.

"Hey big sis. I heard you needed someone to walk you down the aisle. I hope you don't mind it being me?"

Bella's smiled couldn't get any bigger.

"do I mind!? Do I mind! Seth I can't think of anybody else to walk me down the aisle to Paul. You've been our biggest supporter. I'm so glad you're here."

Seth smiled and held unto her just a little tighter.

"no Bell, you and Paul have been my biggest supporters. Not only did you guys take me in, but you practically raise me as your own. I owe you both everything. "

Before they knew it, music had been cued and Seth was escorting Bella down the aisle.

All around them were tiki poles and fairy lights but none it drew her attention away from the man at the end of the altar. Paul. His grey eyes hadn't left hers for a second. She still couldn't believe this was real. She was going to be Mrs. Paul Lahote. He was going to be her husband and her his wife. At one point in time, she had been terrified of marriage and completely against it. With Edward, she felt manipulated and forced when it came to making decisions. For them, it had been a tradeoff. He'd give her sex if she gave him a marriage and after she broke up with him, she never thought marriage would cross into her mind Yet here she was, proving to herself and her soon to be husband, that a piece of paper did matter. That the rings on their fingers were a sign of their commitment and that they were NOT ashamed. No. She would never be ashamed.

…..

"Do you Isabella Marie swan take Paul Achak Lahote to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and obey, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?" minister Weber asked

"I do."

"and do you Paul Achak lahote take Isabella Marie swan to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?"

Paul looked into Bella's brown eyes and held his breath. Never in a million years did he think he'd be here at this altar ready to commit everything he was to this woman. This one woman. He never thought he settles down with one woman but most of all give up the dangerous life he lived. The drinking, the partying, and the drugs. All Paul wanted to do was go numb and let everything else disappear but then …then he phased, and nothing worked anymore. His body sweated out the drugs and he could no longer get drunk. It was hell. But then he saw her. all alone. Sitting on that cliff.

And everything changed.

"I do."

"With the power vested in me and the state of Washington I pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss your bride!"

Paul didn't need to be told twice, he pulled his wife. Yes, his wife to him and kissed her like he would never see her again.

She was his wife. His and His alone. Mrs. Paul lahote.

…..

Forks Washington 12 midnight.

Charlie swan cursed as he tripped up the porch stairs.

"damn stairs. I keep forgetting to fix it. this is the last time I go to a bar with harry and Billy."

he mumbled.

Somehow, Billy and Harry talked him into going with them to a bar but the funny thing was, neither of them had been in a bar since they were teenagers. So why did he let the old fools talk him into going?

Charlie groaned as he unlocked the door and went inside. He threw the keys on the table and opened the fridge for a beer.

"haven't you had enough to drink already?" a voice asked

Charlie froze. He knew that voice.

Charlie turned slowly, not sure if he was ready to face, the person he knew was there.

He could hear his heart pounding in his ears once he turned around and there she was.

"Renee."

She still looked the same. Maybe even better. Her hair had highlights and her clothes were tighter. Something she would have never worn when she was with him.

"Charlie. We need to talk."

Charlie rolled his eyes.

"I haven't seen you in years. Years Renee! And now you have the nerve to show up here? did our daughter even go to visit you?"

Renee leaned back in his recliner. The one she had bought for him after Bella was born. He never threw it out.

"you still have this old recliner. I remember all the times we used to make love in this chair."

Charlie didn't say anything.

"you never did let me go did you char?"

He still didn't anything.

"you know I can handle that. I moved on, you didn't whatever…. but what I won't stand for. Is your treatment of our daughter. OUR DAUGHTER CHARLIE!"

By now Renee had stood up.

"our daughter is pregnant at the same age you were. No job and no future ahead of her! JUST LIKE US! JUST LIKE US and JUST LIKE YOU SHE WALKED OUT THAT DAMN DOOR! JUST LIKE YOU!'

"I NEEDED TO LEAVE CHARLIE! I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THIS DARK DEPRESSING HELLHOLE! AND YOU KNOW WHAT! OUR DAUGHTER ISNT ME!"

"well, that's a lie." Charlie sneered.

Out of anger Renee launched herself at her ex-husband.

The duo fell to the ground as Renee straddled Charlie's hips.

"you always were so stubborn! Bella told me what you said to her. How could you tell her to abort our grandchild! Our grandchild Charlie! We only have one child! ONE! And you pushed her out! Why Charlie! Why would you do that?"

"I LOST BELLA A LONG TIME AGO! JUST LIKE I LOST YOU. THERE'S NO POINT IN TRYING ANYMORE! I won't STAND HERE AND WATCH HER THROW HER LIFE AWAY!"

"no Charlie what you mean is you don't want Bella to leave you. Like I did."

Charlie looked up at her in defeat.

"Why did you leave?" he asked

Renee sighed and laid her head on his chest.

"it had nothing to do with me not loving you Charlie. I've always loved you and I never stopped But I couldn't stay in forks. Living the life of a housewife, baking pies, and raising kids. I'm not like your friends. I live for adventure. But you, Charlie your ...content with your life. Content with this small town, content with the rain. I never could do it. it's just not me. I left because I would have been living a lie and I took Bella with me because I didn't want her to be stuck in this life either but obviously, I was wrong. This is what she always wanted… a sense of normalcy."

Charlie grunted and quickly flipped them so that he was on top.

"and don't you think that it was selfish to make that decision without considering all the facts! I mean do you have any idea the grief you put our daughter through when you took her for me! from us! You broke our family Renee!"

Renee looked at him in tears and said, "like you're doing now?"

Charlie gasp. Is that what he was doing? Tearing his already ripped apart family into shreds.

Charlie rolled off Renee and collapsed on his back unto the hard floor.

"She's Pregnant Ren."

"I know that Charlie. No one said I like it or agreed with it…but she's an adult now and we have to trust her and Paul too."

"you know he suckered punched me."

Renee let out a gut-busting laugh.

"is that where you got the black eye from? Damn that kid has an arm. Well, I might as well tell you, he and Bella got married today."

Charlie shot up.

"what?"

"you heard me, Charlie. They got married and if you want to walk her down the aisle the second time, I suggest you get your head out of your ass or you're going to lose her forever."

With that said Renee stood up and attempted to walk out but Charlie stopped her.

"Did I lose you too Renee?"

Renee bowed her head.

I... I moved on Charlie. Phil and I are happy."

Charlie pulled Renee to him so that she could feel what she did to him.

"Are you really?" he asked huskily.

Renee couldn't believe this. Was her Ex really trying to seduce her? and…it was working. It had been so long since she had been touched. And Charlie…well, Charlie had been her first. Her first everything.

And in truth…Renee wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

"just one night." she groaned.

"one night." he whispered as he slipped a hand under her skirt.

"But you have to make things right with Bella. She's our daughter Charlie. Ours."

Charlie moaned when he realized Renee wasn't wearing any underwear.

"your damn, right she is. I'll fix it with her later, I promise but right…we only have one night. I still love your ren."

"and I still love you…but you have to let me go."

"I know."

With that said, Charlie carried his ex-wife up the stairs and to the bed they hadn't shared in years.

A/n: Now in no way in life do I condone cheating. I'm a married woman myself. However, For the story's sake, I needed this scene to take place because Charlie needed to see just how much he was hurting his broken family and just how much he still loved Renee. Renee herself had to come to terms with Why she left Charlie in the first place and if she is truly happy with Phil. Man, these two are gonna have some regrets in the morning.