Chapter Four

~Edward~

The Central Park was busy, as always, as well as looking just as beautiful as usual; the trees were a lush, multiple shades of green – you could almost detect every single shade of green in those trees – which curved along the gray pathway and among the evergreen yards of freshly cut grass.

There was something about this place that always brought tranquility to me. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone led there day to day life in this park contrasting with the scenery being so beautiful. The fact you could just watch peoples day to day lives pass by you in a matter of seconds, whether they were poor or rich, young or old, made me realize that I wasn't the only person out there – others had problems in their lives… it wasn't just me. I wasn't alone.

I carried on my trail, my hands in my dark blue jacket, as I walked idly towards the smaller pond in Central Park; towards my favorite spot. It wasn't too crowded, but you could easily blend in wither the other passer bys.

I came to a stop at a vacant bench where someone had left a newspaper on. I sat down and looked down at the newspaper, it was today's article.

I picked up the New York Times and slowly read through some of today's headlines. Some of the stuff was pretty good, especially Angela Cheney's stuff – it was down to earth and somehow appeals to the readers.

She normally did stuff on politics and economics though I had read over, one-time flings articles on other various stories. It seemed politics was her main focus and, clearly, it was her thing.

As I looked through the newspaper, I remembered that Emmett's ex-girlfriend, Bella – as I remembered correctly this time – was going to be starting New York Times and it was only a matter of time before I'd, and many others, would be reading her work.

I folded the newspaper back up and placed it on the bench before sitting back down and watching everything and everyone around me.

Nearby there was a man selling ice cream to young and old alike. I could tell by the way he smiled jollily, that he loved his job without a doubt. He scooped the last scoop of ice cream into the cone before knelling down to a small, three-four year old boy, ruffling his hair and handing him the ice cream.

He smiled at the parents or guardians of the child and waved them off as they went back to their enjoyable walk through Central Park.

On the other side, I saw a young student who I imagined to be a art student by his paint-stained clothing and pencil in his hand as he sketched everything going on around him. It was probably a perfect thing to paint.

To the west, I saw a small family standing by the pond. A woman holding a baby and a man holding a elder boy, laughing as they threw pieces of bread into the pond towards the hungry ducks. One duck even came close enough for the little boy to touch it although before he could touch it, his father took hold of him, trying to scold him though his smile.

The two parents would occasionally catch each others eye and it said it all. They loved each other and I found myself envious. It was only a short while ago when I was looking at someone like that, Tanya, but I was a fool in love not to notice that, not once, had she looked at me like that in return. She didn't love me and, deep down, I knew that she never did.

I was suddenly distracted by an intoxicating scent. It was… amazing. It was the smell of strawberries and some sort of floral essence – I had never smelt anything so vivid and wonderful. When my eyes snapped towards that scent I found myself, for the first time, gob-smacked.

Sure, I was gob-smacked when I walked in on Tanya screwing with the neighbor or getting into Medical School before I graduated high school but… this was different gob-smacked. It was breath-taking, heart-thumping, jaw-dropping, eye-opening gob-smacking.

Just a few meters from me was probably the most beautiful woman who was on this Earth. Man, does sound cheesy but she was breath-taking, literally; I think I had to mentally scream at myself to start breathing.

She was at least a couple years younger than me, I'd say 24 at the most, with shoulder length dark brown hair that shimmered burgundy highlights in the sun in almost curled waves. Her skin was like ivory and so perfect that it resembled a Victorian china doll with a natural pink hue on her cheeks. Her eyes were dark brown and even though I could not see from here, I was sure that they glittered and sparkled with beauty. Her lips were petite but plump, her face was heart-shaped with slenderness and her nose was narrow. She was small, petite even, at around 5"4 which was just a little bit above half of my height. Her body was… lustrous; she had curves in the right places that resembled an hour-glass in a subtle, slender way.

I had been tempted to stand up and dumbly walk over to her like I was brainwashed until my eyes set foot on the child holding her hand. It looks like she was just about to walk, her movements, were unstable.

The thing that sent my heart-dropping was the fact that the child, a young girl, resembled her daughter cannily; the dark brown hair, though a lighter red-less shade to her mother's, her eyes were dark, again lighter than her mother's and her skin was ivory…like her's.

She was married… with a child. I should have known. Perhaps, I was sentenced to be without a partner or any possible chance of love again. I was being punished somehow.

I watched, chest-fallen, as I watched the beautiful woman who was obviously some sort of fallen angel, walk with the child towards the ice cream stand where the man smiled once again and serviced them.

I watched as the woman laughed and merrily chatted with the man as if she had known him for years, perhaps she has, and pick up her daughter, pushing her curls from her daughter's forehead and kissing it lovingly. I had never seen so much tenderness, lovingness be placed on their daughter like that… except with the vague memories of my own mother.

I knew I couldn't watch any more.

I stood quickly and escaped the Central Park, glancing down at my wrist watch to see Emmett would be waiting for me soon enough in Lenox Hill hospital cafeterias.

I sighed, my mind dazzled and dazed, before rubbing my forehead once then adventuring out into the open city of New York, heading towards Lenox Hill, which was not far from here. The brunette beauty still vacant on my mind…

"Glad to see you're back, Edward." Wendy smiled as she stood up from behind the Nurse station. "How are you doing, dear? Feeling better?" she motherly asked me as she looked at me sadly.

"Yes… thank you." I murmured before picking up my chart. It seemed Emmett had done every single patient that was on my agenda this morning and I was instantly grateful – I would have to pay him back, some how; perhaps with a man's night out… Emmett loved that kind of thing.

Wendy seemed to see my gratitude on my face. "Told you he was a sweetheart and a good friend. He told me if I saw you before lunch break to meet him down the cafeteria – he's buying you lunch." She patted my hand once more and pulled the chart out of my hands. "Off you go, sonny."

"See you after lunch break, Wendy." I smiled once more before making my way towards the cafeteria to meet Emmett…

I had just walked through into the busy cafeteria and started looking for Emmett where I found him. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw who was accompanying him. It was the brunette beauty…and the little girl. I noticed the girl was now in Emmett's hands who was playing her, tossing her in the air and catching her; the little girl giggled and squealed while the brunette beauty watched, with a smile on her face – a beautiful smile at that.

What was Emmett doing with the brunette beauty and why was he holding the baby like his…

Own.

This was Emmett's little daughter. I remembered the picture of her from Emmett's wallet – the brown hair, brown eyes with a flake of blue and pale skin. It was Emmett's daughter! And that… she must be Bella. Bella… it definitely suited her. Beautiful in Italian – I wonder if her parents knew she was going to be such a fine woman when she was born…

I hadn't noticed that throughout my thoughts a gleeful smile had spread on my face. I cleared my throat, trying to calm myself, sniffed and pulled my hand to my mouth subtly; breathing on it to make sure I didn't smell like strong coffee or some other substance. It was all good.

I rolled my shoulders back before walking to Emmett's table, making sure I looked nonchalant. Nonchalant, keep being nonchalant, Masen, I repeatedly thoughts.

Although before I could get even a foot to the table, Bella was kissing the toddler on the cheek, giving Emmett a hug and turning then walking out of the cafeteria. I felt my heart sink as I missed my chance to meet Bella.

I sighed, as I noticed Emmett still hold his daughter. Bella would be coming back! I thought before I carried on walking towards Emmett who looked up, finally noticing me.

"Hey, Ed, wondered whether you where going to turn up or not. Wendy told me… I'm sorry dude. For what it helps, I went to check on Mrs. Cooke's kid and he didn't blame you – he left just an half an hour ago now with his girlfriend." Emmett shrugged. "Oh! And I would like you to meet my daughter... Annabelle." Emmett announced proudly with a smile. "Anna, this is Edward… my friend."

Annabelle, Anna, looked up at me with those large innocent eyes that reminded me of the brunette beauty. She smiled through her pacifier and held up her hands over the table, grabbing for me.

I hesitantly walked around and picked up Annabelle from Emmet's lap. She squealed and threw her arms around my neck giving me, what I guessed as, a hug. I laughed at how adorably cute that squeal was and returned the hug somewhat.

I could see Emmett a bit anxious with someone holding his daughter but knew I had a lot experience with Ant, Liz and even currently Hay.

"Wow." Emmett exclaimed in awe. "I don't think I've ever seen Anna warm up to someone so quick, apart from me and Bell, that is." He smiled as Anna played with my hair, pulling it and twisting it, with cute giggles escaping her mouth. I'd say she was in a hot running 4th as the cutest child I've seen – Ant, Liz and Hay being the 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

I handed Anna back to Emmett, her pouted slightly, before being absorbed in her battered teddy bear that was on the table.

"So that was Bella? The girl who walked out?" I asked, curiously, as I sat down taking a sandwich from the tray in front of me.

Emmett nodded. "Yep. She let me have Anna for lunch while she went out and did some shopping."

"That was nice of her." I commented, trying to be vague though really all I wanted was to burst out a million and one questions about her.

Emmett nodded in agreement. "I'm having her until the day-care she has applied Anna for, replies back." Emmett looked thoughtful. "You know… I think it's the same one that you take Hayley too."

I felt my heart freeze. "Sunnyville Toddler Daycare?" I asked.

"God, what a cheesy name but yeah, I think that's it."

Silence washed over us for several moments as I thought through this new information. It included the chance to get to know Bella more… I had to contain myself from smiling again. "That's cool. Mrs. Sanford's great." I portended to be vaguely interested though inside, I was jumping for joy.

"Oh, Edward," Emmett said as we finished our sandwiches, Anna still eating her own but she seemed like she was more playing with hers than eating it. "Have you thought more about Friday?" Emmett asked, hopefully. "It would be great if you could come. I really want to introduce you to my kids and Bells – you'll really love them."

Friday…Bella…Friday…Bella.

"You know what Emmett? You'll right earlier – I do need to get out more. I think I will come on Friday." I smiled as Emmett fist pumped the air and grinned madly.

"That's great man. Glad to hear you're getting out of that brooding head of yours…"

Just then my phone went off, alerting both Emmett and I. I pulled it out of my jacket and looked at the screen, it was a message and when I opened it I saw it was from Irina, Tanya's sister.

Hey, E, in town the mo.

Want 2 meet up?

-Irie.

"It's from Irina." I told Emmett as he waited, patiently, for me to answer. "She's in town and wants to meet up." I said, looking at the text again.

"Are you gonna?" I knew that Emmett didn't like Irina – well, he didn't like anyone with the last name Denali after hearing what Tanya did to me.

"Yeah… I'll she what she wants to talk about." I vaguely said before replying to her message:

Hey.

Sure, when and where?

-E

The phone buzzed only moments later after I sent it.

Now?

At Starbucks?

That's if your not busy, doc.

-Irie.

I smiled as her familiar, sassy attitude came through in the texts before, clicking reply again and quickly replying:

Now is fine. Lunch Break.

The Starbucks just a few mins from LH hos?

-E

Good and yeah. See you in a few?

-Irie.

Ok. See you in a few.

-E.

I put my cell back into my pocket before standing up. "I'm going to meet, Irina. You don't mind, do you?" I asked hoping Emmett didn't mind me leaving half way through us hanging out. Emmett shook his head. "Okay. By the way, I'm taking you out tomorrow night – Man's night out, my treat." I told him with a smile.

Emmett grinned, "Bo-yeah. Sounds great, Masen." He gave me a salute wave before I turned and walked out of the cafeteria and out of the hospital towards Starbucks that was just around the corner from the hospital…

As suspected, Irina was waiting on a small table on the side of the small coffee bar. She had a coffee cup in hand and was wondering her eyes across the street outside, looking for me. She looked exactly the same since the last time I saw her, three years ago on Hayley's birth. Although Irina was faithful to her sister, she still wanted to be in the children's lives. The only difference to her was that she had cropped her silver blonde into a smart bob around her head, ending at her chin.

She smiled hesitantly as she saw me and waved.

I smiled back before walking into the coffee bar. Though, I wasn't looking where I was going and the person who bumped onto me didn't seem to be either.

I heard a squeak before the familiar, strawberry and floral smell flooded my nostrils. I looked down and saw Bella, holding a coffee cup that leaked out of the cup and down her hands before dropping onto the floor.

"Shit," I cursed before quickly getting some cloths from the side of a table and started to wipe her hands which I was sure were being burnt by the steaming coffee. "I'm so sorry – I should have been looking where I was going…"

The woman simply laughed, it was weak and seemed slightly strangled. "Don't worry about it. It's my fault – I wasn't looking where I was going either. Not forgetting I'm a complete klutz too."

I smiled and laughed slightly also, meeting her eyes for the first time. I found myself lost in those chocolate brown orbs of her. I found myself cheering on how I was right – her eyes did glimmer and sparkle as I assumed. "Still," I said clearing my throat before she thought I was a staring freak. "I should have been watching where I was going. Do you want me to pay for a new coffee…?" I wondered, politely.

"Um… no, that's alight. There wasn't much split – no harm, no foul." She weakly smiled.

"Hey, E!" I heard Irina call. She was waving her hand over, her blue eyes looking impatient.

Bella shuffled and looked down at her feet as she glanced at Irina. "I'm sorry… I better let you get back to your girlfriend. Sorry… again." She softly said before walking out the door.

"Wait, she's not my…" it was a lost cause. She was already gone. "-girlfriend." I finished off pathetically as I watched her walk across the street, her mahogany waves flying in the wind.

I sighed before turning and making my way over to Irina and slipped into a seat opposite her.

"What was that about?" Irina asked, amused, with a raised eyebrow.

"Nice to see you too Irina. It's been a long time… three years to be precise." I said, with a smile.

Irina rolled her eyes. "Two and three-quarters actually." She corrected, snottily.

"I like the hair," I noted with a finger.

"Thanks," Irina smiled friendly. "Seems to fit well with my job." Irina was a boss at a law-firm. She was bad-ass lawyer, at that and she took over Tanya and Irina's father's position as the Big Boss.

"So," I started. "What are you doing in New York?" I asked.

Irina took a long sip from her cup of latte. "Conference…" she half informed me. I could tell there was more to it. "And looking at apartments. Laurent and me are thinking of moving down here." She said with a small sigh. "We're not liking Chicago more by the minute." She said glumly.

"Oh." Was all I said. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Irina shrugged. "It's alright."

"What about Laurent's club?" I asked. Laurent owned an incredibly popular club in Chicago and gained a huge amount of money investment from it.

Irina sighed. "He said he wants to give it up – he feels like he's not living the dream anymore. He needs a 'change'" she quoted 'change' with her two fingers. "Plus, Laurent's… illness is making him more irritable lately – I don't think he'll be able to run a nightclub for much longer.

Laurent had, four years ago, got diagnosed with bipolar; it explained much about his strange mood-swings and irrational behavior. He used to be… abusive to Irina. He was diagnosed after a nights hitting had gone too far.

He was placed on pills and was scheduled for therapy for extra help. Since then, his rage has calmed, as Irina says from occasional emails.

"What does the physiologist say?" I asked.

Irina bit her lip. "He encouraged it, said it was a good idea. It would help Laurent escape painful memories of his childhood and… abusiveness towards me."

I nodded. "Do you want to move here?" I asked, wanting an honest question.

"I think so… it's just…"

"You don't want Tanya to find out." I finished for her, my jaw clenched.

Irina fell silent. We sat in silence for a few more minutes before I finally spoke:

"How is she?" I asked, I didn't mention her name as I knew she knew who I was talking about.

"I don't know." Irina answered with a sigh. "I haven't spoke to her four eight months; the last I heard, she was in Ohio working a as a busgirl."

"Was she happy?" I asked, not knowing whether I really, truly, wanted to hear the answer.

Irina paused. "She seemed it." She carefully said. "She said she was living the dream and…she still didn't regret a thing."

I exhaled, closing my eyes, before standing up swiftly – the chair moved back loudly earning a few glances. "Thanks for the coffee, Irina – it was nice seeing you." I emotionlessly said before turning to leave.

"Wait, Edward." Irina called after me. "I'm going to be in New York all week. The conference isn't until Sunday. I really want to see my nieces and nephews, Edward, if that's okay with you…" she softly said.

I slowly turned to look at her. "Of course… you can come by any time past three o'clock in the afternoon – that's when they come back from school. You know where I live, Irina." Was all I said before walking out of Starbucks without a second glance. I hoped the kids will be pleased with the news that Auntie Irina was back in town…

~Bella~

I was half chest-fallen, half dazzled as I quickly escaped Starbucks.

Never, ever, had I seen something so… memorizing. He was like some sort of Greek God; his hair was the most peculiar, yet enticing, shade of bronze; his eyes were a deep forest green, almost like emeralds, with flakes of pure gold around the pupil; his features were angular and strong; his jaw was square-like but strong; his lips were so kissable; his frame was lanky yet lean – he was at least 6"2 at the most.

I don't know how I had been so absorbed in the streets outside the Starbucks glass walls to not see him there. I couldn't believe I almost spilt my coffee over him… he probably thought I was some sort of clumsy woman who can't balance on her own two feet – which I am and I told him so. Big mistake Bella!

Then there was her.

The beautiful woman with raw, obviously beauty you'd expect to see on a billboard for perfume or cosmetic advertisements; the sleek silver blonde hair, flawless skin, pale eyes and legs as long as the Great Wall of China. Jeesh, of course someone like him would be with her. I mean, it was life. If there was a beautiful girl in school, also the head cheerleader and most popular girl in the school, it's more likely that the most popular boy quarter-back and most handsome was more liking to date her. It was simple cliché fact.

The Greek God was the quarter-back and his girlfriend was the head cheerleader.

I sighed, once more, before turning down the street and heading towards Lenox Hill to collect Anna from Emmett. In a few hours, I would pick up the kids and spend the night with them and attempt to get over that unfortunate incident in Starbucks. I would not think about that Greek God, called E, again.

Okay, maybe I spoke too soon because, before I knew it, later on that night I lay awake as the digital clock clicked onto 3am still tossing and turning, my mind plagued with that mysterious, beautiful, E…

A/N: I hope you liked the last two chapters. I decided to update early to decrease the suspense! I thank those people who reviewed, you guys were all really nice with your comments and I'm thankful! I'm glad you guys seemed happy with the story so far :) It gives me comfort knowing I'm not making this story completely tasteless and boring.

Anyways, until next chapter. I'm off to bed now, it's the end of my February half-term in England and I've got an important month coming up. Lots of preparing for exams and whatnot. Ekk. I should, hopefully, maintain to keep up my updating but don't be surprised if I don't.

VioletRose1234.