heart out ; paul lahote

01

                        Chapter One - Home

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     "Are you sure you want to move in with Charlie - I mean, your dad?"

     "Yes mom, I'm completely sure." Aiden confirms for what feels like the hundredth time. Renee continues to hover at the doorway, watching her son pack his belongings.

     "You know we'd love it if you came with us, there's always room for you, sweetie." She tries again, hoping for a change of mind. She's been trying to change his mind ever since Bella moved away, and she's been successful up until now.

     With yet another exasperated sigh, Aiden turns to her and gives her his most reassuring smile. "Mom, I'm not doing this because I hate being with you, you know that. I just feel like it's time I spend some time with dad too, plus I'm really tired of moving all the time for Phil - this time I want to move because I want to." He doesn't have anything against Phil, not at all, he just has everything against having to move every other month.

     Renee pouts, but nods her head, finally seeing his point. "I know, I know." She picks up a discarded shirt and packs it with the rest of his things. "I'm just sad watching you leave." She reaches out, pulling him in for a hug. Rennee isn't one to cry, but Aiden is. She rubs his back as he sniffles at her shoulder. Neither want to let go.

                                                                         ***

     The airport is crowded, as is expected, but quite easy to navigate through.

     Watching the rain from the large windows, Aiden can already feel his mood lift at the sight of the steady rainfall. Although he's fond of the rain, he'd rather not risk getting wet and waits for Charlie by the main entrance.

     After an hour of waiting, Aiden has given up hope on Charlie ever showing up until he gets a text from Bella: "sorry kiddo, charlie got hung up at work so i'm picking you up. i'm right outside!"

     Picking up his things, he heads out into the rain. It's only a drizzle now, but still enough to soak through his light T-shirt. The sky is slightly overcast, the sun hardly visible and the parking lot is filled with busy people. Spotting Bella's car, Aiden makes his way over only to find her husband, Edward, suddenly at his side. "oh!" Aiden lets out a nervous laugh, never used to how fast vampires move. Edward lets out a light chuckle and takes his luggage for him, "Sorry I spooked you."

     Bella comes out next, pulling him in for a hug as Edward puts his things away. "Sorry we were so late, kiddo. Blame Charlie."

     "It's fine, did you bring Renesmee?" Aiden asks, taking a seat in the back of the car only to find that his niece is not present. Bella shakes her head, "No, sorry she was taking a nap. But she's really excited to see you -"

     "-And so are Alice and Emmett, and everyone else." Edward cuts her off with a grin, knowing full well how much his family looks forward to seeing Bella's younger brother each time he visits.

     "Do you want to go see the Cullens now or do you want us to drop you off at Charlie's first?" Bella asks, making a turn and driving slower than Edward would like.

     The scenery out his window is nothing but trees as they blur past, Aiden hasn't been around so many trees in quite a while. "Drop me off at dad's first, please, I'm tired." As if on cue, Aiden lets out a big yawn that leaves his eyes watering. "Tell Alice and Emmett I'll come over tomorrow, my phone died." He looks at the his blank phone screen, finally at peace without the constant ringing from the two's texts.

     Half an hour later, he manages not to fall asleep thanks to Edward being good at keeping up a conversation and Bella joining in every so often. Unfortunately for him, Aiden has inherited his sister's lack of communication skills and never fails to be amazed at Bella managing to find herself now living with some incredibly social people - or, vampires, whatever.

     "Charlie said he'll be here in an hour or so, but I think Sue is home." Bella says, stopping the car in front of Charlie's house.

     Sure enough, Sue opens the front door and gives Aiden a long hug, welcoming him home. She assures him that dinner is almost ready and that her kids are out on pack duty, but will be over later. "They're so excited to see you, but Charlie is close to bursting with happiness - don't tell him I said that, though."

     Edward helps him unload his suitcases, and takes them up to Aiden's bedroom. It's located right across the hall from Bella's old bedroom - the one that Seth now occupies when he sleeps over instead of the reservation. The bedroom is not as embarrassingly babyish as it had once been, thanks to his occasional visits and constant redecoration. The walls are pine green, peeling at some small edges but surprisingly still lovely. At the far left of the room sits his bed, neatly made and holding at least five pillows - Aiden loves pillows. The rest of his furniture, along his his desk at the far right, is a dark mahogany wood - still standing and sturdy after years of being in this room. Most of his walls are covered with the occasional movie poster and old Polaroids, and his bookshelf holds most of his favorite books along with those he has yet to read and probably will forget to.

     Bella and Edward leave only minutes later, leaving him to settle in as Sue finishes making dinner.

     He puts away his clothes and other belongings, places his new laptop on his old desk - the laptop was a gift from Phil, bless his soul - and once he's done, joins Sue in the kitchen.

     The second he steps foot in the kitchen, the front door opens and Charlie calls out, "I'm home." With a grin, Aiden runs to the door and envelops Charlie in a hug, which Charlie returns a little awkwardly but happily nonetheless.

     "So am I."

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a/n: sorry if this was a little boring, but it's just the first chapter to introduce him and the story. i promise it'll get better. thanks for reading!