Just to go over this again, I don't own any copyrighted material, Twilight or otherwise.

A big THANK YOU to athena-apollo and scarletappy for reviewing the first chapter. Thirty-eight fucking hits so far and these two were the only ones awesome enough to take the time and tell me their thoughts *BIG HUGS *

Black Swan

Chapter Two

~Bella Swan-Black~

I never thought I'd be in this house again. Charlie had moved onto the reservation when he and Sue married ten years back, but had kept his house and rented it out on occasion for the extra income. Luckily it was unoccupied when I asked about renting it until I had enough money to find a bigger place for me and the kids. Jake had signed everything over into my name, but I wasn't about to continue living in the modest home we had shared since we got married. I also couldn't live with the sympathetic looks I was receiving from the rest of the pack and their imprints. I wanted to hate the pack because they'd known all along and kept it from me even though I knew they had no choice in the matter.

When I talked to dad about renting the old house, he had argued that no child of his was going to pay rent, but when he discovered that Jake would be paying it as part of his obligatory child support, the rent suddenly became $750 a month, utilities being part of the rent. Jake didn't say a word about it and immediately sold his motorcycle to pay three months in advance for us. There was enough money left over to fix the ancient VW and Jacob had dropped it of himself after helping us get everything moved into the place.

I set down my cup of tea and look around the living room aka my bedroom, and mentally go over the colors Seth, Leah, and I chose for each room to be painted. Seth's room, which used to be Charlie's, would be dark blue with white trim. Leah's room , my old bedroom, was going to be a soft lilac and espresso. It's so unlike her usual tomboy choices, but even that has begun to change since starting high school. The kitchen will be painted a buttery gold and the cabinets are to be stripped down to their natural oak and sealed. The lone bathroom with be white with burgundy accents while the living room will become a light blue that reminds me of a clear sky.

My laptop dings and I look down to see a new message from Coppertop.

Coppertop- You on tonight BS?

Black Swan- Nope. I'm a figment of your underactive imagination Cp. Seriously, you need to upgrade to a better imagination man.

Coppertop- Well that's good to know, at least now I have proof that there really are voices in my head. Where you been lately?

Black Swan- Driving myself insane, moving into a new place, getting a divorce, you know, the usual.

Coppertop- I'm so sorry to hear that. What did he do this time? It must have been awful for you to be getting a divorce.

Black Swan- He cheated, lots. Called me a whiny ass then proclaimed how much he loved the other woman. Yippee for me.

Coppertop- Point me in the right direction and I'll rip his arms off and beat him with them. You don't deserve to be treated that way BS.

Black Swan- As tempting as it is, I'm going to have to pass. The kids will wonder where he disappeared to. It was really sweet for you to offer though.

Coppertop- If it makes you feel better, I'm moving into a new place as well. It's in one of the wettest places in the continental US. To use your words, yippee for me.

Black Swan- lol. Sounds like you're moving out to where I am Cp. If so, you still owe me that cup of hot chocolate that you promised if I got that chapter done early just for you.

Coppertop- I've moved to Seattle, so if you're anywhere close, stop on by BS.

Holy shit. I read his answer twice before responding.

Black Swan- I actually live a few hours out of Seattle. I would try to give you directions but I'd just screw it up. You have a map handy?

Coppertop- I'll Google it if I have to, but are you sure you want to give a stranger the name of the city you live in?

Black Swan- For some crazy reason, I feel I can trust you.

Coppertop- Okay then BS, you're the boss lol.

Black Swan- Damn straight. Now get your butt in gear and Google Forks, Washington. That's home sweet home now that we've moved off the rez.

Coppertop- I don't need to Google that shit.

Black Swan- Oh, and why not?

Coppertop- Because I used to live there. Left my heart there too, when my dad got transferred to a new job. I wanted to marry her.

Black Swan- What was the lucky girl's name? Maybe I can track her down for you.

Coppertop- Her name was Bella Swan. I doubt she would even remember me if she still happened to live in the area.

It takes me a minute to regain my composure and choke back the odd mixture of hope and fear that have burst forth. With a shaking hand, I finally force myself to answer him.

Black Swan- Edward?

I wait for over five minutes and still no answer. Finally I get tired of waiting because I have to be up to take the kids to Forks High tomorrow and sign papers for the transfer of their school records. I decide to leave one last message for him before calling it a night.

Black Swan- Edward, if this really is you, it's Bella. I moved back into my dad's old place and managed to get the old number back. I'm uncomfortable just giving it to someone over the internet, but if you remember it, give me a call any time, day or night. If you don't want to, I understand. A lot has happened since we were both seventeen, but I'd love a chance just to sit and catch up sometime.

I close the laptop with a heavy sigh after waiting another five minutes. I know that I shouldn't be upset, Edward wasn't the only guy who tried to get my attention back at school, but the feelings of rejection still pierce deeply through the still raw wounds I already bear.

After making one last round to make sure that all of the doors and windows are locked up tight, I trudge upstairs to take a quick shower before donning my threadbare tee shirt and ratty sweats then pass out on the couch.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I officially hate alarm clocks. Why do I hate them? Because they lead to bad days. How do they lead to bad days? It all started at 6 am, when the little damn squawking thing made me fall off the couch and bang my head off of the coffee table. I managed to stumble up the stairs, gaining a few stubbed toes along the way. That was round one.

Round two came when I was in the shower and Leah's alarm clock went off, making me jump at the blaring noise, slip on my wash cloth, and fall out of the shower, taking the shower curtain with me as I crashed on to the linoleum. I somehow was able to avoid hitting my head when I collided with the old metal tub, but my shoulder wasn't so lucky.

I had just finished rinsing myself off, after fixing the the curtain rod, and started getting dressed when Seth's clock went off and I heard a loud thump come from his room. This caused me to run to him clad, dripping wet and only in a towel. Unfortunately gravity was out to get me and I ended up high-fiving Seth's door with my face after slipping on the rug in the hallway. I guess third time isn't a charm after all.

I kept my fingers crossed as I drove them to school and walked them in to get their papers signed. Mrs. Cope, still the secretary here, tried to ply me into a conversation with the latest town gossip, but my head hurt so badly that I didn't even try to hide my attempts at ignoring her.

"I'll pick you guys up after school so you're not walking home in the rain," I tell the twins just before pushing the double doors open, "Love you."

They echoed their love back as I felt the first drops of rain fall onto my unprotected head.

After tripping on the stairs that lead to the parking lot, I finally climb into the ancient car and navigate my way to the paint store to pick up the colors I was going to need and then grocery store to both stock the pantry and fill out job applications.

Once I get my purchases in the house and put away, I quickly change into a shredded pair of sweats and one of Jake's old shirts. My hair gets put into a loose bun and is covered with a bandanna so I don't have to fight to get paint out of it later.

I somehow avoid killing myself as I cover everything in the living room with plastic and get stuff taped off. I affix my mp3 player back to the surround sounds and get to work painting. I open the windows as I work so I don't accidentally fume myself to death, which would be my luck.

By noon, the living room is finished, as is the entry way that leads from the front door to the stairwell, so I decide to take a break and finally get something to eat. I pop a cup of noodles in the microwave and grab a bottle of Gatorade out of the fridge, cracking it open and drinking half the bottle in one long pull. The microwave beeps and I pull out a plastic fork before plopping down on one of the kitchen chairs to stuff myself.

Three bites in I hear a soft knock on the door. Wonderful, first full day back here and I'm already being harassed I think to myself as I dump the styrofoam cup and fork into the trash and stomp towards the door.

With an aggravated sigh, I open the door. "Look, I don't know..." my brain forgets how to form words as it is assaulted by a ghost of my past. Tall, lanky body dressed in blue jeans and a soft leather jacket, bronze hair dripping with rain, a bouquet of flowers hiding the rest of his face.

"Edward?" I hear myself whisper as the flowers descend to reveal his golden golden? Eyes and perfectly lopsided grin. There is something different about him, but other than his eyes, I see nothing else that can clue me in as to what it may be.

"Hello Bella," he replies, his voice silken and sultry, and I realize that my memories of his voice had not done it justice.

He seems to be waiting for something and I internally smack myself, "Come in?" The way it comes out is more of a question than an invitation, but his smile only broadens as he nods and steps passed me into the house. His amazing scent stuns me briefly until I see him looking around the rooms that were once very familiar to him.

"Sorry about the mess," I mutter as I rush to uncover the couch and ball up the plastic sheet while doing my best to stifle the embarrassment over my tattered clothes and girth, "I was trying to get some of the painting out of the way while the kids were at school."

"It's alright Bella, I don't mind at all," Edward chuckles as he pushes the flowers into my hand, "Why don't you put them in water and I'll fold up the plastic?"

His eyes burn into mine and all train of though is scattered, leaving me helpless under his gaze. "Uh-huh," I answer dumbly before stumbling onto the kitchen.

"This color is much better than the old one," he comments as I try not to drop the crystal vase while filling it with water, "The old paint looked like mold. This one reminds me of the sky."

I unwrap the flowers and stuff them into the container before putting them on the table. "That was the idea behind it," I answer as I carefully make my way back into the room with him, "Everything is so damn dreary around here that me and the kids wanted something that didn't make us depressed."

Something in his features shifts slightly as I talk, but he catches himself and his gleaming smile returns, "Sounds like your children are as smart as their mom. I bet they're great."

I take a drink of my Gatorade and shake my head, "Seth and Leah are so much smarter than I am and I'm grateful for that. You won't find two better kids than my brats."

I sit down on the couch and self consciously try to cover my substantial bulk with my arms. He frowns slightly but eases himself down onto the opposite end. "Isn't that what every parent wants?" he asks, his topaz orbs flashing from the floor to my face, "For their children to be better than them, I mean? To do better than them?"

"Definitely," I agree, trying not to think about our proximity to one another but relishing in the fact that the connection we used to have is just a strong after so many years apart, "What about you? Wife? Kids?"

Edward's head immediately droops and his shoulders slump, "Neither, actually. Truth be known, after I-we-my family and I left Forks, so did my desire to have anything like that. It doesn't help that my job is pretty complicated."

"That's right, you're some kind of doctor now," I ponder, remembering the conversations we'd had over the computer.

His hair falls over his forehead as he bobs his head in agreement, "Veterinarian, but yeah, I have a doctorate in it. It's easier than working with people."

"Seth will love that," I admit genuinely, "My son is a born animal lover." I've never been able to figure out if it was because of or in spite of his father being a werewolf though.

Suddenly I feel his hand on my arm, "Bella, I'm sorry I didn't respond last night, but there was an emergency at the clinic. I drove straight here from there. I knew this was going to be the only way to make things right."

I feel myself melt into his touch, like I always have. Unfortunately, Jake's indiscretions overwhelm me and instantly I'm scared of what could happen. He seems to sense my fear and drops his hand. "I'm sorry Bella, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I'm not afraid of you," I instantly retort, moving to face him so I can look him in the eyes and prove to him that he is not the cause, "I just have a lot of stuff going on right now Edward, and it's kind of overwhelming me."

A smile plays at his lips as he tentatively reaches up and tucks a lock of escaped hair behind my ear, "I understand Bella. I was very selfish when I made the decision to come and see you without prior consent. I was so thrilled with the concept of seeing you again that all common sense flew out the window. I'm sorry for that."

Instinctively I take his hand in mine, it feels cool, but I probably do too, with the windows all being open to the February air, "Don't be sorry Edward. I'm glad you came, I promise. It's good to have someone on my side for once, with everything that is going on."

Edward's fingers gently curl around mine, giving them a friendly squeeze,"I'll always be on your side Bella, for as long as you'll have me, I swear. I want us to get to know each other again."

I bite my bottom lip in reaction to seeing my own tangled mess of feelings play across his pale chiseled features. "I want that too," I finally confess in a whisper so low I'm not sure that he's heard it until I see one side of his mouth turn upwards.

We sit for a long while, talking about our lives. Okay, I mostly talk about the kids and the hardships that had come with being married to a cop and he catches me up on what he and my two former best friends have been doing. I'm amazed to hear that both of his sisters are now happily married. Alice married a Texan named Jasper and Rosalie had married an ogre from Tennessee called Emmett. Oddly enough, they had all met while in Africa while Carlisle was volunteering with the Doctors Without Borders program.

I happen to look up at the clock and realize that we had spent all afternoon talking. I'd have to leave in fifteen minutes to pick up the twins.

"I have to go pick up Seth and Leah soon, but would you like to stay for dinner?" I ask as I get to my feet and stretch, but still not letting go of his hand, "You can come with me, visit our old stomping grounds."

He runs his free hand through his hair and I'm reminded once again of just how sexy Edward Cullen is as he also stands and stretches, "As much as I'd love to, I have to be getting home and it's a long drive back. Can I take a rain check?"

"Sure, you know where I live," I joke to cover the unwanted feelings of sadness and rejection that have cropped up, "Though Sunday nights are reserved for me and the kids. We have a movie night together, no friends allowed. We've been doing it since they started school."

He surprises me by laughing and pulling me into a hug, "Oh, how I've missed you, my Bella," Edward breathes into my hair, the bandanna long stripped off.

I feel my insides swell upon hearing the words my Bella, and I'm fairly certain if my smile was able, it would be wrapped around my head at this point. "I've missed you too Edward."

My cell phone starts beeping, reminding me that I have to retrieve my children, so I grudgingly step back out of our embrace, "I have to go get my monsters so I can walk out with you."

He nods and I pull my hoodie on before grabbing my phone and keys. Edward pulls an umbrella out and holds it over us as we walk to our cars. Ever the gentleman, he opens the door of my Rabbit and seems completely oblivious to the condition of the vehicle as he waits for me to get in.

After taking the umbrella from him and dropping it on the floor, I reach out and grab his hand before he walks off, "Call me when you get home? I want to know that you made it back safely."

Edward flashes his crooked smile, "Your wish, my command Isabella. Can I ask you to do something for me in return?"

I nod, losing my voice again under his intense gaze.

"Be safe," he whispers then presses his lips to my knuckles. He jogs off towards his car before I can formulate an answer. I touch the flesh where his lips rested briefly, remembering the coolness of his touch that is leaving my body anything but.

I pull myself together and throw the car in reverse but can't help but glance at the black vehicle that follows me until I pull into the parking lot of the high school. I see him wave as he passes and can't help but feel a little sad as I watch him disappear.

At least you know you'll see him again this time my mind quips against my will.

But what in the hell am I doing? I'm in the middle of a freaking divorce! I argue internally as I check the time on my cell phone.

If you read some of your own stories, you'd realize that you're getting a second chance it smugly counters Why don't you just concentrate on not fucking it up?

Yeah, that's real helpful. I think, adding a heavy sigh for good measure.

Is that sarcasm I hear? Awesome!

I'm losing my goddamn mind I huff, dropping my head back onto the seat and let my eyes fall closed.

Images of Edward float around my mind despite my attempts to banish them and focus on the task of deciding on what to make for dinner. That doesn't end well either. I find myself debating between pork chops and grilling up some chicken on the back porch.

The bell signaling the end of the school day rouses me from my internal argument and I straighten up to watch for my son and daughter.

Okay, that's two chapters in one day, show me how much you love me by hitting that little green button and leaving me a review.