Chapter Five,  Grief

As soon as they pulled up outside the diner the triplets seemed to freeze where they sat, it has been almost three years since they'd been here and they doubted they'll get a warm welcome from everyone as they seemed to disappear off the face of the earth and now they'd returned scared for life mentally and physically all three of them, Tauri worse out of the three of them and a baby in tow given he was not theirs by blood but the townsfolk won't know that they'd jump to conclusions and gossip. As if he'd sensed their unease Charlie cut off the engine turning around in his seat smiling reassuringly at them.

"It's alright girls we don't have to go in if you're not ready to face everyone yet. I know you've got to go to a number of funerals later and it's fine if your not up to the people of this town just yet, we can eat at home." Charlie said soothingly as he tried to calm his nieces well adopted daughters down. The three shared a look silently communicating in their 'triplet speak' as they dubbed it before Amalthea shook her head. "No Charlie we'll come eat with you here. We're so sorry for all we put you through over the years can you forgive us?" She asked tears in her eyes as she smoothed down her black dress that was similar to what her sister's were wearing.

"Of course I can. I don't know where brought this on but I want you to stop it right now, all three of you. I know you only stopped writing so no one could find me I perfectly understand and it's no one else's business so don't worry about then I'll deal with everyone." Charlie assured as he got out of the car, after taking a deep breath the three followed him Tauri holding Teddy in her arms as always. Smiling reassuringly at his nieces he led the way into the diner which was rather busy as it was the lunch time rush and as they entered everyone stopped what they were doing to look at them. Seeing his girls were getting uncomfortable under all the attention Charlie cleared his throat and called Marie the waitress over.

"Marie, could we have a table please?" Charlie asked startling everyone out of the trance they'd been in. Marie hurriedly put down the meal she was serving to another officer, who was the only one not staring at them instead he smiled warmly at them welcoming them home. "Of course Charlie." said Marie in a rush as she hurried over to them. "I see they've finally returned." She said with a sneer on face her voice dripping with disdain. "I don't know why you girls feel the need to hurt Charlie so much he's done everything for you. Bella I could sort of understand but you three?" She sighed shaking her head in disappointment she no doubt would have continued to berate them if Charlie hadn't stepped in.

"Marie that's enough! You have no right to berate my girls for anything, any of them! For your information they didn't stop writing to me out of choice they were burying friends and family members and were kidnapped by their parents murder and they have yet to go to more funerals today, so I would be grateful if you and everyone else in this town mind your own business and leave me and my girls alone!" Charlie snapped angrily.
"You heard the Sheriff." The officer, Danny snapped when everyone continued to stare immediately everyone went back to their own business. "What can I get you? Steak and cobbler Sheriff?" Marie asked cordially looking down at her notepad.

"No thank you. We'll get four spaghetti meatballs and four diet cokes please." Charlie ordered for them. "Oh, and could heat this for five seconds no more no less in the microwave please." Charlie said taking off the lid of the bottle and handing it to Marie when Teddy started to fuss. "Of course anything else I can get you while you wait?"
"No that'll be all thank you." Charlie said shortly turning his back on his friend he did not like how everyone was treating his girls and he would not stand for it. Taking the dismissal for what it was Marie made her way to the kitchen to place the order with the chef before heating up the bottle for the required time.

Once the bottle was finished she placed it on the tray with their drinks and brought it over to them before going over to the bar to watch from afar as they all sat at the table quietly as Tauri fed the baby his bottle as she moved her head Marie caught a glimpse of a scar running across her throat under the scar she wore cringing at the side she felt slightly bad for verbally attacking them as soon as they entered the diner. Bringing over their food she decided to at least apologise she didn't want to lose Charlie as a friend she really should have known better, she knew how protective of his girls all four of them Charlie was.

"Charlie I wanted to apologise for how I behaved when you all walked in it was inexcusable." Marie apologised as she placed their food down. Charlie just nodded his head he wasn't ready to forgive her for how she treated his girls just yet. "Girls you need to try to eat something." Charlie said firmly but gently after watching them play with their food for ten minutes or more. "I'm sorry Uncle Charlie but we're not hungry." Larissa apologised as she twirled her fork around in the spaghetti. Charlie sighed setting down his own fork reaching across the table to hold their hands looking at them gently. "I know but you need to try to eat at least half of it I know you won't want to eat anything afterwards but please try now for me?" Charlie asked sighing they reluctantly started to eat though their bodies wouldn't except it and force it down, Charlie conceded this was the best he was going to get.

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Locking his car Charlie walked up the steps and knocked on the Cullen's door, he really needed to see Bella and Renesme especially as the house was empty as Kreacher had gone with the girls to look after them and to look after Teddy during the funerals. "Charlie is everything alright?" Carlisle asked concerned as he saw the emotions raging across his friend's face. "Can I come in?" Charlie asked instead his voice thick with emotion. Frowning Carlisle stepped aside and let Charlie enter it was a good thing most of the vamps were hunting at the moment. "Grandpa." Renesme cried happily running over and hugging her grandfather as he picked her up. "Dad? Is everything okay?" Bella asked concerned the last time she'd seen her dad like this was when he'd stopped hearing from the girls and assumed they were dead.

"No. I don't know what to do Bella. They've been hurt so bad I don't know how to help them, they've lost so much if they didn't have us and Teddy but mainly Teddy I'd be worried they'd take their own life." Charlie muttered despondently.
"Do, do you think they will?" Esme asked hesitantly her hands over her mouth.
"No I don't think so. Though I know if Tauri didn't survive Thea and Lissa would surely follow their sister. They left early for the funeral as Tauri has an appointment with Severus the scars are healing and the potion is healing her vocal cords Severus is going to try to get her to speak." He said happily at the end, he was so happy that Tauri was getting her voice back.

"That's great dad!" Bella cried happily, she was so happy for her cousin. "It'll be a long process to get the vocal cords working again and she's likely to sound like she's got a sore throat but she'll be able to talk again. The potions worked quicker than what Severus was expecting, she'll still have the scars much like on her arm as their cursed scars and can never be healed but she'll be able to talk again soon." Charlie explained.
"How-how were they Charlie?" Jacob asked he saw that the three vamps Jasper, Emmett and Garrett were eager to ask but they knew the girls weren't ready for them especially Tauri after he and Bella had explained everything to them after they left the other day.

Sighing Charlie ran his hands down his face feeling much older than what he is. "Not good. They hardly ate anything all day and were extremely quiet and to make matters worse when we entered the dinner everyone jumped on them having a go at them. They're burying Remus and his wife Dora, Teddy's parents their godfather; Fred Tauri's barely holding it together they'd been going out for nearly five years." Charlie sighed. "Not to mention all the friends they lost over the years let alone in the battle." He wished he could of protected his nieces from all they'd been through in their young lives.

"I better head to work. They'll be back later tonight Bella they'll need you as well as me."
"I'll be there dad don't worry." Bella assured.
"I will too grandpa." Renesme agreed cheerfully she didn't like seeing her aunties upset. Charlie smiled and ruffled Renesme's hair. "I'm sure they'll be happy to see you Renesme." Charlie smiled kissing and hugging his granddaughter goodbye and then doing the same to his daughter before leaving the house.

"Bella," Jasper called as she'd started to lead her daughter to the kitchen to get something to eat. "Is there anything I can do for Tauri?" He asked desperately.
"I would like to know that as well regarding Larissa." Garrett added as Emmett asked the same question about Amalthea, all three of them looking at Bella expectantly.
"Just be there for them whatever they need even if it's just a friend to begin with and don't push them especially Tauri. I know it'll be hard Jasper but don't push her she's been with Fred for a long time and those feelings won't go overnight she's grieving. Charlie, Rene, Teddy, Teddy's grandmother and I are all they have left and a few friends. They've lost everyone and they're not even eighteen yet." Bella sighed leaving the vampires to their thoughts as she got her daughter something to eat she couldn't help but think of her cousins wishing she was there for them.

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"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!! MY FREDDIE IS DEAD!! MY GINNY IS DEAD AND YOU THREE SURVIVE!!! WHY IS IT ALWAYS YOU THREE THAT SURVIVE?! I WISH YOU THREE WERE DEAD INSTEAD OF MY CHILDREN!!!" Molly screamed ignoring her family who tried to get her to stop or the tears running down the girls' faces. "YOU'RE NO LONGER WELCOME HERE I DON'T WANT TO SEE YIU HERE AGAIN!!" Molly screamed tears running down her own face as she entered the house. Arthur turned to the triplets especially Tauri who was wrapped in her sister's arms sobbing. "I'm so sorry girls she's just grieving I'm sure she didn't mean it. When she's calmed down I'm sure you can come back, I'll talk to her. Good luck girls." He said hugging the three of them before leaving to find his wife.

"Mum may not want you to come back here. You're like my sisters and Fred loved you Ri, you three are all welcome at our... my flat and shop." George told them holding back his own tears just barely he hugged them tightly once more before disapperated back to his flat leaving the girls huddled together holding each other and Teddy as they sobbed into each other's arms.