Events in this story are loosely based on real events readers will easily recognize, but I have exercised some creative license with the chronology and facts. Tragic events can happen anytime and anyplace. How we handle those events is what matters most.


Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to

have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh.

Henry David Thoreau


July 2004

Edward separated the documents into three piles and handed them to Jasper as he spoke.

"This one goes to CNN's Anderson Cooper. He's been digging around since the spill and I think he would be the one most willing to incite the ire of the government."

Jasper nodded in response.

"This one goes to Larry Schweiger at the National Wildlife Federation. He's going to froth at the mouth when he reads these. And this..."

He slid the last envelope over the table.

"...goes to Stuart Smith in New Orleans. He's the lawyer representing the United Commercial Fisherman's Association and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network. Let him utilize this information to help those whose livelihoods have been affected."

"I think it's wise that you are doing this anonymously, Edward. So many have resigned from BP and with all the contractors involved it will be impossible to pinpoint who revealed what."

"Do me a favor and send Anderson Cooper's a few days ahead of the others. From the internal documents on the flash drive, BP feared he would break something soon. Let them think he did it on his own. He had all of the puzzle pieces already, I'm just helping him put it all together. I'm leaving in the morning for Zimbabwe to work with Habitat for Humanity for a few months, maybe longer."

"About that. I wanted you to know that Alice sent a press release to local news stations and newspapers explaining that you have resigned your high level position with BP over the mismanagement of the Gulf crisis, and that you are redirecting your efforts with Esme to found a new Food Bank for the Forks area."

"When will this news break?"

"The Seattle Times and The Peninsula Daily News are running something in the morning."

"Brilliant. I'll be on a plane to Africa and any interviews will have to take place after I return, after the potential BP shit storm dies down. It will be safer for you all if I'm not here anyway. Without their target on the continent, I hope they leave the rest of you alone. Alice really does think of everything, doesn't she?"

Jasper's broad smile showed the pride he had in his wife.

"Jasper, I should...I should have focused on my larger goals, on humanitarian efforts from the beginning. You know I never needed the job with BP or the salary. I thought I could make a positive difference in their engineering operations. I thought if I worked from the inside out, to inspire change...but when I realized that their internal standards might not ever match mine, and then learning that I was lied to, that we all were...I regret not listening to my heart when I realized that my attempt at making a difference might not matter. I regret so many things..."

"Edward, regret nothing. You did what you could with the best intentions. You are making changes now and that is what will matter. In the end, it's all that ever matters, what we do after we fall. It's all about how we pick ourselves up off of the floor."


He knocked quietly a few times until he heard movement behind the door. When her room came into view, he noticed the books strewn across her bed.

"You're studying at this hour, Bells? It's Sunday morning on your summer break. Aren't teenagers supposed to sleep until noon?"

"Not this teenager. I'm preparing for my AP courses. What's up, Dad?"

He handed her the newspapers, a smile evident behind his thick mustache.

"You need to read these. I knew people were giving him a bad rap unfairly."

"Who?"

"Edward Cullen."

She grabbed the papers from his hands quickly and opened them, skimming quickly.

"Page 3 in the Times and Page 2 in the Daily. Want breakfast?"

"I'll be down for coffee in a few."

She sat on her bed and began to read. She blushed at the picture of the handsome man featured next to the article. She understood at an early age that Edward was an attractive teen...as a man, he was stunningly beautiful, the most handsome man she had ever seen. She could not stop staring at the picture after she read the articles.


The rest of Forks was soon abuzz with the news. As the days went by, Esme and Carlisle would receive glowing praise at the actions and integrity of their son. Some offered to help with volunteering at the Food Bank, and many more offered donations. Generosity in Forks grew into other charities for various causes.

The heart of the community was taking shape.


February 2005

"Alice, what kind of pies should I make for the official grand opening of the Food Bank?"

"Edward's favorite is cherry, and because he landed last night, I'm sure he'll appreciate having a piece, Bella!"

"He's back from Zimbabwe?"

"Yep, he wouldn't miss the grand-opening for anything. He's so thin. He needs to be feed and I think your pies will do just the trick!"

"I'll go to the store now to get the cherry filling. Do you need anything else while I'm there?"

"Nope. You sound...happier, Bella."

"One week I really miss her and the next I don't think about her much...but it's hard not to think about it, with the anniversary of her death next week. Ten years, and I still hate her cancer. I go through stages..."

"...I think that happens to people who grieve the loss of a loved one. I know your mother would be so happy with how hard you're working at school, how much time you are spending giving to others. You are turning into quite a generous and determined young woman. I'm proud of you, and I know your mother would be too."

"Enough gushing, Alice, you're making me tear up. I've got pies to bake. See you tomorrow?"

"Bright and early. I'll be there at seven in the morning to set up. That will give me three hours to make things perfect."

"I'll be there by seven too. Dad will get there after his shift to help."

"Great! Get to work on those pies! Edward will be thrilled!"

Bella was happy that Alice could not see the blush creeping up her neck and cheeks. She could not wait to see him again, after so many years.

She grabbed her keys and jumped into her truck, driving into town to get the cherries and ingredients for the pies.

When she turned on the main road into town, she noticed the mountain biker on the road ahead. He was tall, extremely fit and his strong legs pumped furiously as he rode up the hill on the grass. Her blush returned when she realized that it was Edward. The strength of his body as he pushed ahead was undeniable, and her blush grew even deeper when he turned to smile at her.

Embarrassed for him to see her blush, she waved in the rear view mirror and pushed on her gas peddle to speed away before he could witness her body's reaction to him.

She was at the grocery store in a matter of minutes. She grabbed her basket and walked through the aisles, grabbing things as she went.

"Bella Swan, leave some for me, will you?"

He smiled at her as the sweat trickled down his forehead.

She feared she may swoon on the spot. She placed another can of cherry filling into her cart.

"These are for you, actually. I'm making cherry pies for the ceremony tomorrow and I thought I'd make a few extra for you to take home."

"That's thoughtful of you! I come by here every so often, when they're not in season, to get the cans so I can put it on ice cream or other desserts. You knew cherries are my favorite?"

"Alice."

He chuckled, his smile growing wider.

"Of course. Your hair...you look so different with that length."

"I was just thinking about cutting it off. I'm sick of it."

"Please don't. It's lovely like that. Alice would kill you if she heard you were thinking about chopping it off. She regrets cutting hers. She claims it never grew back the same again."

He reached over to grab a can of his own.

"Did you have a nice time at her wedding?"

He nodded in response.

"The Florida keys are beautiful. We watched dolphins right off the beach. Alice and I both thought of you when we saw them."

Her blush was back in full force. She despised her body for being such a traitor.

"I read the articles about your resignation in the newspaper. I also saw the recent reports about the baby dolphins washing up on the shores of the Golf Coast."

He nodded in response, sadness leveling his once happy expression.

"The numbers are so much higher than what happens naturally during the calving season, and because they are being found over a wide spread area...it's...it's tragic that the impact continues to be so pervasive."

"We talked a little bit about it in class Friday. Are...how are you doing, after everything?"

"I..."

"Edward Cullen! I thought that was you riding up the street! When did you get back into town?"

"Hello, Mrs. Lewis. I got back ye..."

"Mrs. Lewis is my Mother-In-Law, so please don't remind me of the bitch. Call me Linda."

Bella watched Mrs. Lewis' predatory stance as she moved in closer to Edward, her breasts arching up to meet his gaze. Bella felt extremely uncomfortable and knew she needed to get away from the conversation as quickly as possible.

"I'll get to those pies. See you tomorrow, Edward. Have a nice afternoon, Mrs. Lewis."

She smiled at them both and walked away, feeling uneasy in the pit of her belly. She wished that she could have continued the conversation, and she hoped that she would get the chance to do so in the morning.


Bella navigated her cart down the small ramp leading to the parking lot as the metal cans of cherry filling rattled against the metal grate of the cart. There was a group of women gossiping behind her.

"Elsa said that he's huge, and had a stamina that blew her mind. All night, Margaret. All night. She said that even in high school, he was a skilled lover. She hooked up with him during a college summer break and she said he was even better. Look at him now. Imagine the experience. I think he also slept with..."

Bella pushed her cart faster, to get away from their whispers. Despite their ten year age difference, she had always realized his appeal to those around him. As he got older, he grew to be even more handsome...undeniably so. Jessica and the rest of her friends would often talk about him or repeat what they heard their mothers saying about him, so she knew that he held some kind of power over the females that crossed his path. She knew that he had that same power over her as well, but she could not place what it was or how she could hinder it. She just knew that she reacted to him whenever he was around and she always looked forward to being in his presence.

What she knew, most of all, was that she looked forward to seeing him again in a few hours.


"What a success! The TV crews showed up and the interviews with the reporters went well. Bella, those pies were amazing!"

"Thanks, Esme. I'm happy so many people came to show their support."

Esme nodded in response, picking up the garbage strewn about the floor as she walked towards the back.

Bella pulled out a pair of scissors and began cutting the stretchy plastic packaging and rings on the bottles she set aside while serving the beverages during the party. She worked through them quickly, placing the piles into the recycling bags at her feet.

"Are you still dumpster diving?"

He was laughing as he said it, yet she felt nausea wash over her. Her peers made the most painful jokes of all, but she had assumed that Edward would be the one to understand. She looked down at her organized recyclables. The tone of his voice reminded Bella of a scolding. She suddenly felt very young.

She bristled at his teasing words, a frown forming on her face.

"I'm not a child anymore, Edward. I'm capable of being more prepared. I'm just trying to do my part to..."

She abandoned words before she cried in front of him. She left her scissors on the table and turned quickly to leave the building, quickly getting into her truck, pulling away.

He frowned as he watched the old truck drive off, disturbed by her sudden change in demeanor and departure.

"She's fragile right now. Next week is the tenth anniversary of Renee's death. Was it necessary to tease her that way? She worked so hard all morning, and she was proud about the system she set up to save all of the recyclables."

His sister always managed to be where it mattered.

"I was joking with her, Alice. You have to admit that it was hilarious, her going through our garbage."

"There was a time when you once found a noble quality in her doing what she did, at such a young age. What makes you mock her now?"

He turned to look at his sister in response but she was already walking down the hallway. He helped clean up the remaining mess, smiling at the pair of scissors and cut plastic rings beside them on the table.

His mother's voice interrupted his silent thoughts.

"She made you extra pies. They are in the refrigerator. She thought you might appreciate something sweet after so many months in the African wilderness. Don't forget to grab them before you leave."

"I'll stop by to thank her, Mom."

"Do that, son."


He pulled up to the Swan residence that afternoon and knocked on the door. He stood there for a few moments before he realized that her truck and the cruiser were not in the driveway. He walked back to his car and was about to open his door when the cruiser pulled up.

"Edward! What brings you here?"

"I came to thank Bella for helping with the party today, and to thank her for the extra pies she made for me."

Charlie's forehead knit in confusion.

"I thought she was with Esme?"

Edward shook his head in response.

"She left a while ago."

"That girl...she's been a strange one lately. I don't know where she could be. I'm sorry you missed her. Want to come in for a beer?"

"Thanks, but I have to get back. I'm leaving for Seattle in the morning to do some interviews. Will you please tell her that I stopped by to thank her for the pies?"

"Will do! Saw the whole Anderson Cooper thing about BP on the news a couple of months back. Looks like you got out at the right time and made the best decision to leave when you did."

"That sure was something, wasn't it? I'm glad the press is finally taking an interest in the truth and not regurgitating the misinformation being fed to them by the parties involved. It finally feels likes some justice is being served, especially for the people living on the gulf. Nothing will change what happened, but they do deserve the truth."

Charlie nodded in response.

"Good luck with your interviews! I'll tell her when she gets back."


A/N

Elli started a thread on Twilighted to discuss this story, if you'd like to chat about it. The link is on my Author's Page. Also, thanks to NKubie for the gentle nudges along the way. ;)

References:

Anderson Cooper, Larry Schweiger and Stuart Smith are historical figures in the commentary following the Gulf disaster:

wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

An interesting perspective regarding why Environmentalists like Edward might chose to work with large corporations:

blog/2010/06/14/why-environmentalists-must-work-big-corporations

Baby dolphin carcasses have been washing up on shore recently, as reported in the news:

article2011/02/23/us-dolphins-gulf-idUSTRE71L7T620110223

Forks does have a Food Bank, among other charities:

. /charities/search_?charity_id=10325

Habitat For Humanity closed it's Zimbabwe branch late in 2005 due to political and economic turmoil. You will see how African turmoil plays a roll in their (and our) lives later in this story:

.com