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 married Robert Pattinson and been a millionaire!

Time skip : Beth and Bella are now 10 months old.

"Custody of Isabella and Elizabeth Swan is hereby given to Renée Dwyer." At those words, the glare that she shot her mother had intensified tenfold. And all because of what? Her lack of strength to be there for her husband while his parents' health took a decline? Her inability to care about anyone but herself? Beth could understand that Renee was suffering from PostPartum Depression, but what she couldn't understand is why she had such a lacking amount of empathy for the other person affected by her depression. She was taking her away from her dad. Her papa.

Charlie had been her first dad ever, really. In her past life her 'father' (read sperm donor) had left as soon as he had the chance, leaving her mother behind with Genevieve. From what her mother had told her, he was a deadbeat dad who only wanted one thing and when he'd gotten it- he up and left. And with her mother being so young when she had Genevieve, she'd struggled as a single mother and most times- she had to be raising her mother rather than the other way around. And now, Renée was the one taking her father away in a strange twist of fate. Was she not meant to have a father figure? Was it just a coincidence that she would lose both fathers in both lives? Or was it planned? Who was going to help Renee raise them? Elizabeth could not even begin to imagine how Renee was going to manage with twins.

Charlie was sitting quietly in his seat, unmoving as the words left the judges mouth. Beth watched with saddened eyes as he stood, head bowed as he was escorted out of the courtroom with his lawyer. The sadness and grief that radiated around him was almost tangible. It was easy to see that this was not what he had wanted the outcome to be. But he had no choice- he couldn't raise twins, go to work and take care of his parents all at once. And despite everything, his wife was divorcing him because she felt trapped in Forks. It almost seemed as though he couldn't get a break.

Elizabeth wanted to follow him, go with him. Not her mother.She struggled in her grandmother's arms, squirming around. She felt a sudden smack on her bum and froze. Turning back around, she looked at the glowering, wrinkly face of her granny and scowled. That woman had had it out for her for the longest while it seemed. It was easy to see that Renee's mother had a favorite of the twins- Isabella- and Elizabeth could not begin to guess what she had done to the old woman to spite her.

'Let me go!' She wanted to scream, but all that came out was a frustrated yell of garbled foolishness known as baby-talk.

"Hush, Elizabeth." Her granny scolded her. Beth wanted to kick her so badly.

Before she could, a whimper came from beside her. It was Isabella sitting in her car seat beside them. She had awoken from her nap and made that noise as if to berate the two for it. Isabella had been somewhat of a mediator when it came to their grandmother's and Beth's strained relationship. Immediately Beth quieted down, settling for glaring at the oblivious woman holding her, not wanting to disturb her twin any longer.

"Okay, I have the documents. We can go now." Renée had come over, looking ages older than the twenty-one year old she actually was. But, truthfully, Beth could easily tell that divorcing the love of your life was no easy task. Still, it didn't stop her from snarling at her. Or at least, she tried to, but once more it failed and made it look like she was constipated.

"Aww, my sweeties." The single mother cooed to them, tickling the twins. Isabella gurgled a laugh while Beth grabbed her mother's hand and pushed it away from her. Her eyebrows crinkled together in frustration as her mother instead fixed her attention to her mother after throwing Eliza a saddened glance. "Dada." Beth gurgled frustratedly. The two adults immediately stopped talking and looked down at her.

"Say that again, honey?" Renée kneeled in front of her. She was obviously shocked.

"Dada!" She screamed, tears coming to her eyes. Renée blinked stupidly before plucking her from her grandmother's arms.

Beth cursed her baby emotions, they were so strong. Every single emotion had two physical responses, cry and laugh. Because she was frustrated now, she cried . She missed her old hold on her emotions and prayed that this would end soon. But knowing the natural way of life- it wouldn't end until she had finished puberty.

Renée stood up and walked out the doors of the courtroom. Beth cried, partly from relief of her mother's understanding and partly because she wanted to go to her dad so much. Looking over Renee's shoulder, she caught sight of the old bat carrying Bella's seat her wrinkly face fixed with a scowl, as she followed her daughter and granddaughter reluctantly.

Childishly, Beth stuck her tongue out at her granny and was satisfied by the startled expression that appeared on the elder woman's face. Looking ahead again, she caught sight of Charlie leant against a wall with his tie askew and his hand pinching the bridge of his nose. His face was flushed, as if he had been crying and Beth's tears picked up speed. Why? Why was her mother separating them?

"Dada!" She cried out and Charlie's head shot up in surprise. His eyes were bloodshot and the very tip of his nose was a bright red and swollen. He had been crying. He sniffed and held out his hands as Beth did the same. He all but grabbed his daughter from their mother's hands and held her tightly. Beth couldn't feel anything but pure love and adoration and pride from his hug. She clutched his dress shirt in a death grip with her pudgy hands. Neither party ever wanted to let go. Renée watched the scene with a sad smile. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she couldn't stay in Forks. She didn't want to get stuck there. She wanted to travel. Experience different cultures and view the world herself. And Renée knew she couldn't do that in Forks, tied down to the dreary town by marriage. She was nearly twenty-two for God's sake and already had twins!

A soft cry a few feet behind them had Renée turning and letting the father and daughter have a moment. She took Isabella from her mother's arms and hushed her, holding her for the time being. It was almost as if the twins knew what was going on. Like they had some level of comprehension of the weight of what the judge had declared just five minutes prior. But it couldn't be, they were babies!

Elizabeth hugged her dad like it was the last time. Which it was, in a way. The last time that she would see him for a few years. She would miss how he'd make aeroplane noises to get her and Bella to eat and how he'd tickle her when she calmed down from a temper tantrum. Gosh, there were plenty of those times. But most of all, she'd miss his hugs.

"Dada..." She garbled through hiccups.

He hushed her, rubbing her tiny back soothingly with his huge hands. "I know, it's okay," Charlie whispered to her.

"Everything will be fine."