Disclaimer

Twilight and all affiliated characters are the property of Stephanie Meyer. I do not own any of the aforementioned characters except Beth and the plot of this story (that is, should it stray from the original Twilight). This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story line. I am not in any way, shape, or form benefiting financially from the publishing of this story on this site and am very grateful for Mrs. Meyer's creation. Besides, if I did own Twilight, I'd have been able to lift off with my writing career.

Emilia would have been lying if she said she wasn't surprised when the officer from the motel (or the remains of it) turned out to be the Chief of Police. She nearly groaned at the reminder of just how small Forks was. So unused to small towns, she was, when she'd been born and raised in Seattle for her entire life. The bustling city never had a dull moment, there was always something going on, good or bad and there was always- always a place to stay if one of the places just happened to spontaneously burn down.

She tried not to show her grimace on her toothpaste strewn face, hair beyond fixing with only a brush to her name as the officer- CHIEF, she corrected herself- walked out of his 'Forks Police' branded cruiser to stand in front of her donned in nothing but his black trousers and a regular T-shirt topped with his coat- brown hair ruffled as though he'd just rolled out of bed to get here. Emilia was definitely regretful now, of her behavior the night prior and how she'd just up and disappeared from their conversation. She had to give him credit though, when his roguish mustache only twitched in amusement at her appearance.

"Good morning," he greeted her gruffly, smothering any remaining laughter from his tone.

Her eyes narrowed but a playful, tired smile rested on her thin lips. "Is it?" When they got back to her car some moments later, Emilia reluctantly accepted his help as he used his tools (if you could call them that) to unlock her car. She thanked him, begrudgingly acknowledging that he had indeed saved her quite a bit of trouble.

"You're welcome," Charlie said with a hint of amusement in his tired eyes. "Just doing my job."

Feeling a bit guilty for the inconvenience she had caused, and feeling the effects of having not eaten since before she'd left Seattle, Emilia offered, "Can I at least get you some coffee as a thank you?"

Charlie's lips curved into a small smile. "I won't say no."

Thankfully, by the time they'd arrived at a quaint little diner style restaurant, Carver Cafe, the sky had lightened enough, telling that they were now in the appropriate time for interaction. It was open too- thank god. Emilia didn't think that she could reasonably take any more disappointments for the rest of the day. They headed inside, attracting curious glances for their attire from the early locals decked head to toe in fishing gear. Thankfully, it was only old men (at least they wouldn't gossip as much, she hoped) present- few of whom Charlie knew and nodded cordially toward. Taken aback when Charlie insisted on paying for their breakfast despite her protests, she allowed it. Not many people were stepping up to do that these days. Especially when she'd literally offered it as her treat. As they waited for their food, Emilia's curiosity got the better of her and she gestured towards the wallet that still rested on the table between them, open and two faces of young girls smiled up at her. Both brunettes, around the age of six in the picture and the one on the right missing a front tooth.

"Those your girls?" she inquired.

Charlie's expression softened with a fondness only a father would know as he realized what she'd been talking about, and gestured "Yeah, those are my daughters, Bella and Beth. Just turned eighteen this September."

Emilia's interest piqued further. "Twins, huh? Are they still in Forks?"

Charlie nodded, "they graduate next year."

As the conversation died down, a pang of guilt struck her as she remembered the events of the last night. "I'm sorry about yesterday," she muttered. "I was frustrated and took it out on you.."

Charlie waved it off, a small smile playing beneath his stache. "Don't worry about it. We all have our moments." And then Ms. Crowley came bustling out the door of the kitchen, a full plate in each hand.

Charlie had ordered his usual hearty breakfast, a stack of fluffy pancakes topped with a generous serving of crispy bacon. The sight of the golden pancakes drenched in maple syrup and the aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air around him, conjuring a sense of familiarity.The pancakes were stacked high, each layer soaking up the rich syrup that cascaded down the sides. The bacon, perfectly crisp and aromatic, lay alongside the pancakes, providing a delightful contrast of textures. He hadn't had a breakfast like this since before the girls had come to live with him- choosing to stay at home and have a good cup of joe and a bowl of cereal with either or both of them. They didn't eat breakfast much with how late they'd normally wake up and rush off to school nowadays, but Charlie didn't mind, having some time with them was better than sitting in the diner by himself for three meals a day.

On the flip side, Emilia had opted for a veggie omelet, a colorful medley of sautéed vegetables folded into a perfectly cooked egg mixture. The omelet was a burst of color, with vibrant bell peppers, tender mushrooms, and fresh spinach mingling together in the fluffy egg blanket.The omelet was garnished with a sprinkle of grated cheese, adding a touch of creaminess to the dish. The sprinkle of cheese on top melted slightly, creating a gooey and indulgent layer that added depth to each forkful. A side of toasted whole wheat bread accompanied her omelet, offering a satisfying crunch with each bite.

The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee accompanied their meals, the steam rising from the cups and mingling with the delicious scents of their dishes. The mugs held the promise of warmth and comfort, a perfect complement to the morning feast.

By the time their plates were empty and their mugs drained of coffee, their stomachs were satisfied and their hearts felt a bit lighter. As they got ready to leave the cafe, having driven separately, Emilia still hadn't shaken off her sense of guilt for waking him up.

"I'm really sorry again for waking you up," the forty year old apologized, gathering her car keys from the table.

"Just doing my job, ma'am."

"Emilia, please." She extended a hand. "And please extend my apologies to Mrs. Swan." She said upon catching sight of the simple, gold wedding band that adorned his left ring finger.

Charlie faltered slightly, but shook her hand, "The only Mrs. Swan is my mother."

Emilia muttered an apology again, feeling embarrassed by her assumption and watched as the Chief waved and walked away before resigning herself to the fact that Port Angeles was her last resort. With a heavy sigh, she headed back to her car, hoping that the rest of her trip would go smoother than yesterday.

.