A/N: Yay! An update so you guys can put down your pitchforks and stop hunting me down : ) First of all, I was compeltely overwhelmed by all your reviews and support and love. You guys totally rock and made my week with your response. I'm glad you guys are all excited to read this story. Cause I am super excited to write it.

Secondly, this is a really big chapter. It's going to explain everything that happened to Edward and Bella in New York. I tried to do it in an interesting way and not just have one of them sit down and tell everything to someone. BUT if you have any questions either PM me or leave it in a review and I'll try to answer, I know there's a lot of information to take in for this one. Enjoy

Edward

You said you'd love me forever, then you said 'It's over"

And left me without the missing link.

Well I thought I'd forget you, but I guess I forgot to,

And lately I've been too confused to think.

When I reach for someone new, it's like I'm touching you.

-Colin Raye

Disaster was the only word that could possibly describe this evening. I stood at my bathroom sink checking out my new black eye, courtesy of my ex-wife. There was a knock on my door.

"It's Emmett," he said as he stepped in the room.

"Phew. I thought you were Bella coming to kill me and finish the job."

Emmett laughed as he threw a slab of meat at me. I winced as I put it over my eye.

"Well at least she's still got some spite in her." He sat down on the bed. "What happened exactly?"

I looked back in the mirror and thought back to earlier today, when the fuckery all started. I was just minding my own damn business in the barn and she had to come in and cause a scene.

"Really Edward?" She said, stomping into the barn.

A silly grin spread across my face as I pushed the crank one more time.

"Nice to see you too honey," I said as I turned around, wiping the dirt off my hands.

"What are you doing here?" She looked just as beautiful as the last time I saw her, but there was no way in hell I was going to let her know that.

"Well. Jasper and I transferred all the hay back in here. Then I just fixed this pulley here..." I slapped the crank with my towel.

"Very funny clown, I mean what are you doing here?"

"I'm working."

"That's funny. I thought you only worked trampy whores. But why here? Why? Why? Why?" She threw up her arms, completed frustrated. And completely adorable. I was dumbfounded. "Speak."

"Um. I needed a job."

"Ugh." She turned and marched off.

I ran towards her, slinging my dirty towel over my shoulder. I grabbed her arm and spun her back around.

"Hey what the hell is with the attitude?"

"Because you're here. And I'm here. And I.... I don't want to see you Edward." She looked down at my hand around her arm and shook it off.

"That's nothing new!" I yelled after her. She stopped.

That was a low blow and I knew it. She was never around back in New York, and we both know that was a big part of our problems.

The next thing I knew Bella was flying at me with more anger in her eyes than I'd ever seen. It felt like a brick wall as she crashed into me, tackling me to the ground. I wasn't about to fight back. She was a girl and she was my girl. At least she used to be. So I just used my strength to roll her under me, her fists pounding against my chest.

"Been awhile since we were in this position huh?" I laughed, pinning her arms to her chest.

"God I hate you! Fine! Fine! I give up." She stopped resisting.

I smiled, only to mock her. "Good." I stood up and pulled her to her feet.

As soon as she was firmly planted on the ground her fist swung back and connected beautifully with my right eye.

"Shit Bella!" I'd always thought it was funny when she hit people before. It was actually kind of hot. I didn't feel that way any more.

"Bella!" Charlie yelled as he ran towards us. "Now stop that! Get off him!"

He held Bella back, pinning her arms behind her.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size Bella, he obviously can't defend himself against you..." Charlie laughed as she struggled against him.

I rubbed at my eye. "Thanks Chief."

"Well this has been quite the reunion hasn't it?" Charlie said. "Can I let you go now?" He said to Bella.

"Yes..." Bella hissed through her teeth. He released her and she stomped back up into the house looking like she was going to burst into tears at any second.

Something in my chest twitched. Ached suddenly. As I watched her slam the front door, a part of me wanted to run in and comfort her. Let her know that everything was okay. But apparently it wasn't. We weren't even close to being okay.

"So why exactly did she hit you?" Emmett said, standing up from my bed and walking into the bathroom. I shook away the memory from this afternoon.

"I said some things...that I shouldn't have."

"Like what?"

"Well I kind of hinted that she was never home. Back in New York."

"But I thought she wasn't?"

"She wasn't, but it wasn't because she didn't want to be with me. She worked two jobs and went to school while I was working full time. We needed it just to pay rent on our apartment. We never saw each other. And we fought. All the time. We fought about money, and spending time together, and mood swings. And then there was that stupid thing with Jane that just got blown way out of proportion. She left that night."

"So what did happen with Jane?"

"It was a huge mistake. Nothing did. Bella just doesn't believe it."

"Tell me everything." Emmett said, sitting on the edge of the tub as I continued nursing my eye. It was so odd talking to him like this. I mean a couple of years ago we'd be ripping each other's throats out. But we were here. We were talking. Acting like actual brothers. I had actually liked having him around.

"Well I worked at this bar in Greenwich. It was pretty much a dive, but it paid well. The tips were amazing. Everything was going great for a few months. I mean Bella was gone a lot yeah, but we were….happy. Then I started working more and she started school and it just got out of control. I only saw her in passing, as she was getting in from class or work and I was leaving for the bar. I didn't get in until she was fast asleep and I slept till noon everyday, completely exhausted from work the night before. That's when the fighting started. First it was just bickering back and forth, but then it just turned into something every single day. She even kicked me out one night. I slept against our door in the hallway."

Emmett laughed. I glared in his direction.

"Sorry dude. That's funny. Continue."

"Then this new bartender started working there. Jane. She was really nice and fun and we got along really well. There was no attraction to her…that way, but she was definitely a good-looking girl. Very delicate and feminine, but she just wasn't Bella. Anyway Jane and I became pretty good friends. She'd been bartending for awhile and she showed me some new flair that definitely made me look like I knew what I was doing."

"She sounds hot."

I paused to look at him for a moment before carrying on.

"Anyway. So I was at work one night, having a blast. Bartending is actually a pretty fun job when you're good at it. When I got home that night Bella was just sitting there in the dark with her arms crossed in front of her and that pissed off look that she gets on her face. I asked her what was wrong and all she said was I came to the bar tonight. I tried to think back to something that I would have done that would've set her off. Nothing. I couldn't think of one single thing."

"I saw you with her…" Bella said as she started bouncing her leg up and down.

"With who?" I said, completely confused. I'd been working my ass off all night. I barely had time to take a piss.

"That blonde girl. I saw you Edward."

"Jane? What are you talking about? She works with me."

"She works you or she works with you?"

I laughed and started towards the bedroom. "Bella don't be ridiculous. I'm tired I'm going to bed."

"Why can't you talk to me?" Her voice cracked like she was about to cry.

"Why are you always such a bitch about everything?" I stopped in the doorway. Crap. Not the right thing to say. I turned back towards her, my arms reached out. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean that. I'm just exhausted. Come on let's go to bed. We can talk all you want."

She stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door. I didn't see her until the next day.

"Where'd you stay last night?" I said as she opened the door. It was nearly one in the afternoon and I had just woken up. She was clearly skipping class today.

"I got a hotel," she mumbled. She looked terrible. Her eyes were all puffy and red. Clearly the effects of crying all night.

I patted the stool next to me as I chomped into my cereal.

She walked over slowly and plopped herself on the seat. I put my spoon down and placed my hands on the bottom of her stool, forcing it around so she faced me.

"Listen to me," I took her face in my hands. "I'm sorry about what I said last night. It was out of line and there's no excuse for it. And as far as what you saw, whatever it was, it was nothing. We're actors Bella. We have to put on a show to get good money. It was completely innocent."

She broke down crying and pulled herself onto my lap.

"I'm sorry," she kissed my neck. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

I wrapped my arms around her neck. "It's okay babe. Don't cry." I kissed the top of her head. "I love you so much."

"I love you."

"Why aren't you in class?"

She pulled away from me and laughed. "Look at me, I'm a hot mess." She ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

"Well I think you look beautiful but if you insist we can take care of that…" I threw her over my shoulder and carried her to the bathroom, stripping off her clothes along the way.

I slammed my fist gently against the mirror of the bathroom at the memory.

"I thought everything was going to be okay then. We understood each other….She was gone a week later."

"Wow dude. That was intense." He yawned and stretched his arms above his head. "Well I'm gonna hit the sack, it's been a long day." He got up and started towards the door. "Hey man. Maybe you should just talk to her. Maybe everything will work out. Maybe it won't. It's worth a try though right?"

I didn't say anything because I really didn't know anything anymore. I lay back in my bed as Emmett closed my door. I heard him walk outside, down the porch steps, and towards the little cabin Charlie had built on the side of the house so Emmett and Jazz would have some place to sleep. Luckily I got a room in the house since I was the first one here.

I reached for my phone and dialed her number. "Hey it's me. Can I see you?"

Bella

You say that you'd take it all back, given one chance

It was a moment of weakness and you said yes...

-Taylor Swift

"It was horrible Alice…" I sobbed into the phone. "I don't think I can do this." I looked out the window and saw Emmett walking away from the house. He probably just came from Edward's room. Traitor.

"Bella just breathe. You can totally do this. He's just Edward Cullen." Yeah he's just Edward Cullen. The Edward Cullen that I fell in love with…twice. And the Edward Cullen that made me go weak in the knees whenever he looked at me. And the Edward Cullen who had married me and then broke my heart. "Bells. Listen to me. You can do this. And Rose and I will be there in two days. We'll help you."

"Yeah I'm sure Rosalie will help me right off a cliff."

"I actually think you'll like Rose now. She'll probably be a bitch to Edward."

"Oh good. Can you guys come now?"

Alice laughed. "Just talk to him Bella. What's the worst that could happen?"

"A lot." Let's see I could punch him again, kill him, beat him, kick him, or fall in love with him again.

"Okay I gotta go. We'll see you soon though. Love you B."

"Love you too Al. Bye."

I lay back on my bed and my thoughts drifted to Edward. He was in the room below me, right now.

"Fuck my life," I whispered to myself. There was a soft knock on my door.

"Bells?" Charlie said. "Bells I know you're mad at the world right now but I just wanted to check on you. You don't have to say anything, but just let me know if you need anything. Or if you want to talk or something." Long pause. "Okay well I'll see you tomorrow." I heard his footsteps start down the hallway.

"Dad?" I said softly.

"Yeah sweetie."

"I want to talk to you."

He opened the door and walked in, sitting himself on the edge of my bed.

"Talk away kiddo." He patted at my leg.

"Actually I wanted to ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"How long?"

"He showed up on my doorstep the night after you called me to say you'd left him."

"What'd he say?"

"He said he was a mess without you. And that he'd quit his job and moved out of the apartment. And that he needed a place to stay and that he'd work for it. So I gave him a room and put him to work the next day."

"So wait a minute. That day he came here supposedly from New York to sign the annulment papers he had actually already been living here?"

"Yeah we got him a room at the Inn downtown while you were staying here. We thought it was too soon to tell you he was living here."

The anger in me started to rise with each word that he said.

"But it's been two years Dad!" My voice got louder. "Why the hell haven't you told me since then?"

"I don't know baby. I think we were both scared."

"So what you're all concerned about Edward's feelings now? I'm your daughter, you're supposed to be on my side!"

"Bells I'm not on anyone's side. I won't lie to you, I've grown close to Edward these past two years. And it's been tough on him. I think of him as a son and you are my daughter. I want you both to be happy. I'm sorry that you think I betrayed you but it wasn't my intention. It's not like I really knew how to deal with a situation like this."

I lay back down on my bed, completely frustrated by the whole situation. "Goodnight Charlie."

He stood up, understanding that I just wanted to be alone now. "Goodnight Bella." He closed the door softly behind him.

"Damnit Edward what happened to us?" I whispered to myself. "How did we get so messed up?"

I drifted off to sleep contemplating my life and how it'd gone dramatically wrong. My nightmare started where it always did. The morning before I left him.

"Hey you're not working tonight right?" Edward said, kinking his eyebrow up like he was planning something.

"Nope. I have the night off. I'll be back from class at 5." I smiled. "Why?"

"No particular reason." He smirked.

"Hmmm…" I mused. "Okay. Well I have to get to class, I'll see you later." I kissed him on the cheek and left.

When I'd seen the voicemail from my boss that afternoon, I knew it wasn't a good sign.

"Bella. Hey sorry to do this, but one of the girls called in sick. I need you to work the late shift tonight. Just come here when you get out of class."

"Shit." I said as I closed my phone. Edward was going to be mad. I could tell this morning that he was planning something.

"Hey baby. So bad news."

"What is it?" Edward said. I could tell he was eating something, like usual.

"Irina just called."

"Yeah?"

"I have to work tonight," I said quickly.

"Oh come on Bella, you said you had tonight off…" He sounded mad.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Listen I'll be home by 8 or 9 at the latest, I promise. Then you can dazzle me with whatever you were planning earlier."

"Okay. Fine. Just hurry back to me."

"I will. Love you."

"You too. Bye."

When Irina said that we were swamped, she really meant it. There was no way I was getting out of here at 8. I'd be lucky to get out of here by 10.

"Hey Edward. I don't know why you aren't answering your phone, but I don't think I'll be getting out of here anytime soon. I know I promised and I'm sorry but one of the girls is sick and we're just totally out of control."

"Bella your order's up!" The cook yelled.

"Okay I gotta go, but I'm so sorry and I love you." I hung up the phone and went back to work. I had double the amount of tables that I usually had. Maybe Edward wouldn't be so pissed when he saw how much money I made in tips.

We closed at 9, but with how busy we'd been we had a ton of clean up to do. We hadn't been able to keep up on the register or cleaning. I wiped at the counter furiously and put up the tables as fast as I could. Kate laughed and shook her head as she counted money.

"Got somewhere you need to be?"

"Yeah at home with my husband. He's going to be so mad. I could tell he had something special planned for tonight and I told him I'd be home at 9." I glanced up at the clock. It was 10:15.

"Then get the hell home girl!" She said.

"What?"

"Go! Get out of here. I'll take care of the rest." She smiled in my direction.

"Really?"

"Yes really. Go!"

"Thanks Kate. You probably just saved my marriage," I joked.

I grabbed my bag and ran to catch the bus back home. I practically ran up the steps and fidgeted with my keys, trying to get them ready so I could just go in. I had to make this up to him somehow.

My key slid quickly into the door and I had it open within an instant. "Baby I'm so sorry," I jiggled my keys in the door, before looking into the apartment. They always got stuck. "I just got so caught up…" My voice trailed off.

Edward looked completely horrified that I'd walked in and started pushing the blonde off his lap. I quickly recognized her as that slut he worked with.

"What the fuck is this?"

Jane spun her head around, her arms around Edward's neck and smiled at me. "Whoops," she said.

"Whoops? Get the fuck off my husband skank!" I ran over to her and pulled her by the hair. She fell to the ground. "Get out!" She quickly scrambled for her top, which was lying on the floor beside the couch. "If I ever see you back here again I'll cut your two favorite appendages off with a rusty spoon!" I slammed the door in her face. I turned back towards Edward.

"Bella that wasn't what it looked like I swear!"

"Really? What was it then, I'm dying to know." I was fuming. "What was it Edward, because it looked like a hell of a lot more than acting." My voice broke as the tears started rolling down my face. I can't believe this is happening.

"Listen. Okay?" He stood up and walked over to me, placing his hands around my waist. I shook him away,

"Don't touch me..please." I took a step back.

"Bella please."

"You said you could explain. Explain."

"I had planned this great dinner for us. You and me." He gestured over to the dining room area, where a table was set for two. The candles had burned almost all the way to the bottom. Jane called. She was upset because her boyfriend had just broken up with her. She wanted to talk. That was all."

"Since when does talking involve sitting on your lap half naked?"

"I told her I was busy tonight, that I was waiting for you to get off work. Ten minutes later she was at our door. I told her she could only stay for a minute because you were supposed to be home soon."

"I called you and you didn't answer."

"I know. I listened to your voicemail while I got her a glass of water. She was absolutely hysterical. So I told her she could stay for a little while since you were going to be busy. Pretty soon she started hitting on me and I told her that she should leave. She apologized and just said she was really upset. She went to the bathroom to "freshen up" or whatever the hell you girls do in there; I had closed my eyes and laid my head back on the couch. I didn't hear her come out of the bathroom but the next thing I knew she was on top of me with her shirt off."

"That's such bullshit Edward." I ran to our bedroom and started pulling things into my duffel.

"Bella I made a mistake okay? I shouldn't have let her in. I wish I could take it back but I can't. Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving."

"You said I could explain!" He started panicking as I pulled my last few things into my bag.

"Yeah I did. But I didn't say I would believe it or forgive you."

I started towards the door.

"What do you want from me Bella? Nothing happened!"

I put my hand on the doorknob. "I don't want anything from you Edward. Not anymore. We're done." I started out the door. "You should have said no," I whispered as I slammed the door behind me, leaving Edward dumbfounded in our living room.

I woke with a start at the slamming of the door. Sweat beads had formed all over my forehead and my face was wet with tears. I'd been crying in my sleep. I sat up and ran my fingers though my hair. Maybe Alice was right. Maybe I did need to talk to him. I needed to talk to him right now.

I threw my robe on, opened my door and started down the stairs. I tapped lightly on Edward's door.

"Hey it's me can I talk to you?" I whispered. There was a rustling of sheets, like someone rolled over in the bed. Silence. "I know you're in there Edward, I just heard you. Don't be an ass."

More rustling and footsteps, coming towards the door. It swung open and I was greeted by a mass of fiery red hair.

"You're….not Edward," I said.

"Clearly," she pulled the sheet tighter around her naked body. "He's outside having a smoke." She closed the door and shuffled back to the bed.

I swear I started hyperventilating. I had to tell myself to breathe. In my heart, I think I'd known that nothing had happened with Jane, but it was very clear that something had happened with this red headed bitch. And it made me nauseous to think about it. I grabbed at my chest, in a complete panic. I have to get out of here.

I ran towards the front door; running away from all this, running to the one spot I knew could take all this pain away. It was one of my happiest places, where some of my happiest memories took place.

Edward

I wake up and tear drops

They fall down like rain

I put on that old song we danced to and then

I head off to my job

Guess not much has changed

Punch the clock

Head for home

Check the phone, just in case

Go to bed

Dream of you

That's what I'm doing these days

-Rascal Flatts

I pulled the cigarette slowly out of my mouth and thought back. Back to when I first came here. That first week. That first year. The first time our anniversary had come and gone since we'd split. That was fucking brutal day for me.

I had asked Charlie if I could have it off, but he said no. I just wanted to sit around and sulk that day, but Charlie knew better. He made sure I was busy as hell all day so I couldn't sit around and think about her.

For some crazy reason I thought she'd call. Not even to say she loved me, or wanted me back, but just call. It was our anniversary. We owed each other that much. I walked slowly towards me bedroom, praying with every ounce of my body that there was a missed call or a voicemail on my cell. Not to sound too corny and chick flick, but my heart fucking soared when I saw the little envelope in the top right corner of my cell phone screen. I had a voicemail.

I was so damn nervous, I had to type in my password five fucking times before I got it right. This shit was unreal. I was Edward Cullen, I didn't get like this over a girl. But this wasn't any girl. It was Bella. And I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't cry like a baby every night for the entire month after she left. Or that I got butterflies in my stomach every time she called Charlie. I could tell when it was her. He always glanced at me from the side and walked into the other room. I was still head over heels for that woman and she didn't give two shits about me.

My leg bounced up and down expectantly as I waited for the recording to start.

"Hey Edward, it's Jasper. I know that today is "the day" and I just wanted to call and let you know I'm here if you want to talk. Okay man, I'll talk to you later."

My breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding whooshed out as the voicemail ended. I was so fucking stupid to think that she'd call. "So stupid!" I yelled as I chucked the phone towards the wall. It crashed through the window, breaking it into a million pieces. "Damnit Bella!" I collapsed on the floor in absolute hysterics.

I was such a fucking mess back then, I thought as I took my last drag on my cigarette. At least now I had someone to keep me company at night if I needed it. Victoria was beautiful and fun, and yeah we went out sometimes. Most of the time we stayed in. I just couldn't get to that next level with her. Bella had seriously cockblocked me on an emotional level. It was never going to get serious with Victoria and she knew that. She didn't like it but she accepted it. I had nothing left to give because in all honesty, my heart still belonged to the woman who'd left me two years ago.

A movement in the darkness startled me and I looked up. It was Bella. She was running towards the woods. I watched her disappear in the darkness. I flicked my cigarette into the dirt and stomped it out before following her into the tree line.

I followed her to the creek, where the tree swing was, and down the water line until we reached the bank of the river. The same bank we'd fished at our first visit here. She sat down and put her head in her hands. Her shoulders shook violently like she was crying. I stood, hidden in the trees, and watched her for a few minutes. I don't think she knew I had followed her out here. She surely wouldn't be this emotional in front of me on purpose.

She finally lay back, flat on the grass and started looking up at the stars. I knew that I was the reason she was so upset, and it nearly killed me. Without even considering the consequences I stepped out of the darkness and into the moonlight that bathed the riverbank.

She sat up quickly and turned my direction, squinting into the night.

"Who's there?" She looked around frantically.

"It's me Bells."

She looked back out at the river. "Oh," she said softly.

"Can I sit with you?"

"You can do whatever you want," she mumbled.

I walked over and took a seat on the grass beside her, laying back and putting my hands behind my head.

"Did you know that every year the moon moves about 3.8cm further away from the Earth?"

She just turned and looked at me, absolutely confused by my attempt at small talk.

"Sorry. I read a lot."

She lay down beside me.

I turned my face towards her. "You've been crying."

She didn't say anything.

"Because of me."

"Because of us." This was the first time she'd talked to me without yelling at me or calling me something heinous.

"I'm sorry Bella."

"Me too."

We finally looked at each other. I could see her eyes glistening in the moonlight.

"You look so beautiful…" My hand instinctively reached out and caressed her face. She turned away.

"What happened to us Edward?"

I pulled my hand away. "Well I let a skank into our apartment."

"No I know that, but what happened to get us to that point. I thought we were perfect. And I was so in love with you. So much. I thought it was enough and it wasn't."

Her crying had finally stopped and we were talking. Just talking about us, which is what we needed to do. No yelling, no shouting, just talking. It wasn't a lot of progress, but it was something. She was just Bella and I was just Edward.

"Trust me, I've had two years to think about this. Let me enlighten you…" I spread my arms above me at the large expanse of space.

"Okay please do…"

I propped myself up on my elbow and turned towards her. "We were in love Bells. And it was enough. But we were just so young, and so immature. At least I know I was. Our brains just weren't caught up to our hearts yet. We still had some growing to do. We were irrational and crazy and just…young. For once our parents were right. Can you believe it?"

"Maybe you're right…"

I slowly inched my hand towards hers. "But maybe now…"

She pulled her hand away. "There is no now Edward. We can't go back."

"Why not?" I sat up and rolled so I was hovering over her. She quivered below me as I brought my face within inches of hers.

My eyes searched hers, looking for some kind of answer. Then they darted to her lips, which looked as amazingly delicious as ever. I licked mine and inched my face closer.

She closed her eyes and just as I was about to touch my lips to hers she spoke. "Stop." I could feel her breath on my face and I was completely intoxicated.

"Why?"

She sat up, pushing me off her.

"Because I don't think the naked red head in your room would appreciate it." She was angry again. That small progress we'd made? Gone. We were back to square one of her being pissed at me and me not knowing what the hell to do to fix it.

"She's nothing, just a-"

"A mistake?" She finished my sentence. "Seems like you've been having a lot of those in the last few years Edward." She stood up and brushed her pants off.

"Fine. If you want to be that way fine. I'm done." I started stomping off towards the woods.

"Fine!" She screamed. "Just walk away. That's the side of you I'm used to seeing!" She actually stomped her foot.

I flipped her my middle finger and ran back into the woods. "Stupid whiney ass."

A/N: So they finally had their reunion and both of them are still as fiesty as ever, which is a good thing because that was so important to their characters in Blackout. Once again thank you for the reviews, they really got me to get going on the next chapter. : ) (*hint, hint*) Shoutout to all my RA girls. You know who you are.