Care to share where you've been for the last three years?

I sit straight up in my bed. I know I just had a nightmare but my mind is still too fuzzy from sleep for me to know what it was about. Then I remember, of course, it was about him. The same nightmares had haunted me for months after his departure. I didn't understand how he could have left me. The last night we spent together had been incredible but in the morning he was gone leaving behind him only Masen and note saying not to try to find him. I immediately drove to his house after reading the note hoping I could catch him and change him mind, not really believing he would leave. Every trace of the Cullen's had been removed. I spent hours crying in his room. Since that day I have had reoccurring nightmares about driving to Edwards house and finding him gone leaving me all alone with only an overwhelming sadness.

After briefly contemplating why I would be dreaming about Edward now when my life was finally going good again, I get up to get ready for the day. I take a long hot shower, relishing the luxury I did not have often due to Masen's irregular sleep patterns. After leaving the shower, red skinned and pruney fingered. I get all of mine and Masen's things together. I wake Masen up and give him cheerios for breakfast.

While he eats I cant help but stare at him. His adorable mouth opens and closes as he eats and his cheeks are still rosy from sleep. His eye's are a deep honey gold surrounded by thick black lashes. His hair is golden and silky and he has the cutest button nose I have ever seen.

All I can think about is how lucky I am to have Masen in my life. Just then, Kitty jumps into Masen's cereal bowls spilling cheerios everywhere. "Kitty!" I exclaim. "Yuck yuck" says Masen in agreement. I pick up Masen trying to shake as many cheerios off him as I can and put him on the ground. "Okay I will just give you a bowl for the car, okay honey?" I ask him. "Fwineee" he replies drawing the word out like it's such a hardship for him. With a chuckle, I shoo Kitty, clean up the cereal and grab a new bowl for the car.

As we drive away, Masen gets the smart idea to throw cheerios out the window when he sees people he thinks look "funny". "Masen, stop wasting your cereal, come on we're almost at school, finish it up so you'll have energy to play with Daniel" I tell him, proud I remembered his friends name.

After dropping Masen at Day Care I make it to French class just in time. I listen with rapt attention as my professor tells us what we will cover this semester. After the class ends I head out trying to figure out what I'll do for the hour until my next class. Rummaging through my bag to find my phone I walk right into someone. "Sorry I wasn't looking" I tell them distractedly. "No, it was my fault, I'm sorry." I heart stops. His voice. No. I look up.

"Edward?" I say, not trusting my own eyes.

"Hello, Bella."

OoOoOoO

Edward? No. There is no way he is back how? Why? My mind just can't comprehend it. I had given up on ever seeing him again, resigned myself to a life where my only love was my son. How could he come back? Now? After almost three years. What right did he have to just come back and expect me to what? Simply forgive him? Not happening.

Despite my anger toward him I need answers. "Why are you here?" I blurt out before I can stop myself.

He hesitates, "I-I just wanted to see you," he says uncertainly.

"Well now you've seen me. Care to share where you've been for the last three years?" I ask bitingly.

"Bella I am so sorry, I just I couldn't believe what I had done to you, I didn't want to hurt you so I thought it would be better if I left you, let you live a normal life" He replies looking genuinely sad.

"I'm sorry I upset you" he hesitates a moment then, "Do you want me to leave?" he asks me.

Do I want him to leave? No. But how can he expect me to just welcome him back after everything he put me through. Oh crap. He doesn't know about Masen. How do you tell a vampire who isn't supposed to be able to have kids that he has a son? I soften.

"No" I reply. "I just need to think, can you I don't know, do you want to come over for dinner?" I ask him.

He laughs softly "I would love to."

"Okay, um I'll give you my address, Oh I forgot I have plans tonight but is tomorrow okay?" I ask, I'll let him worry for a little and not tell him those plans are with my father.

With a sigh I tell him where I live and say I have to get to class. I still have over half an hour before class starts but hey at least this way I'll get a good seat. I arrive at my Spanish literature class and decide to get a head start on the reading. When I look up I realize the class is filling up and will start soon. Then I see her, nearly jumping with happiness, Alice. My heart aches a little when I see her. I still can't believe they all abandoned me. She walks right over to me and sits down.

"Bella!" she practically screams enveloping me in a hug. I soften a little, I really had missed her cheerful smile.

"I am soo sorry we left. None of us wanted to, but Edward was so upset and he wouldn't tell us what happened and Esme said we should just make sure he was okay, but I wanted to come back so much. I am so sorry." She gushed.

"Oh Alice" I sigh.

Just then the professor walks in and I look forward.

The class drags on and I can feel Alice's eyes on me. Finally when we finish I run out of the room hurriedly telling Alice my next class is in five minutes and we'll catch up later.

I wasn't lying I make it to my European political theory class just in time to grab a seat before the professor starts. I can't concentrate all class because all I can think about is the sudden reappearance of the Cullen's. Why did Edward decide to come back now? I just don't understand it. How do I even feel about him coming back after he abandoned me. I am so grateful I have a full day to figure thinks out before I have to face him again.

OoOoOoO

I pull into the parking lot to pick up Masen and I can't help but worry about telling Edward about him. Or telling Masen he has a father. How will Masen react to the father he never knew he had? My life just got so complicated. And I thought it was messed up before. I think with a laugh.

After picking Masen up I drive home while he babbles about "Danya" and "Big trucks". I feel an irrational jealousy of the simplicity of his day. He didn't just see the father of his child for the first time in almost three years. Okay well if he had that would be really weird.

We walk in the door and I am hit by the smell of Charlie making pasta and meatballs. My mouth waters. I hadn't realized until now that I forgot to eat lunch. "Charlie that smells amazing" I say to him walking into the kitchen. "You are in luck" He says "I even made dessert. My stomach grumbles at that and he laughs.

I leave the kitchen not able to bear the smell in my famished state. I walk in on Kitty apparently trying to climb onto Masen's head. I laugh at the comical sight and tell Masen dinner is almost ready. He is talking to Kitty and barely even looks up at me.

I love how well Masen and Kitty get along and I can't help but wonder if Masen and Edward will like each other. I still can't figure out how I am going to tell Edward about Masen but I'm thinking I might just take the chicken way out, and let him see Masen for himself when he comes over tomorrow.

"Bellaaa, dinners ready" I hear from the kitchen. You don't have to tell me twice. I grab Masen by the hand and we walk to the dinning table.

"Have I mentioned lately that I have the best father in the entire world?" I tell him and he laughs.

"They don't call me chef Charlie for nothing you know." He replies.

I can't stop myself from worrying about tomorrow, but at least tonight everything is good.

OoOoOoO

After saying goodbye to Charlie and tucking Masen into bed I pull out the note Edward left for me all those years ago.

Bella, this isn't working. You are a human, I can't pretend that doesn't matter anymore. I am leaving. Don't try to find me. I don't want to see you again.

The words are hard to make out through all the tear stains but I have them memorized anyways.

All I can think about after seeing him again is the feel of his lips on mine, the ghost of cold hands touching me, the whispered "I love you" and the pain when he pushed inside of me. That night had been perfect. It had been perfect in it's imperfections. Because even though it had hurt, we had both needed to feel that closeness, to hold each other and make love. I can feel my stomach tingle just thinking about it. He had kissed and caressed every part of my body that night and I knew it didn't get better than that. I knew I loved him and he loved me.

So why did he leave? How could he leave me? And why was he back?