Chapter 8: The Last Night

BPOV

"Hello, this is Charlie Swan."

"Happy Father's Day, Dad."I said as enthusiastically as I could.

"Oh, thanks Bella. I didn't even know that was today."

"Well it is so do you want to go to lunch or something so I could give you your gift?"

"I don't know, Bells. I'm kind of held up at work right now, the launch of the new software is in two weeks and I need to make sure everything is perfect." That doesn't surprise me. He never wants to just hang out with me. I really only ever see him on holidays when we are all obligated to be in the same room as each other. He doesn't even call me anymore unless it's to yell at me for doing something wrong.

"Alright so do you want to make a day where you are free for us to have lunch together so I can give you the gift I got you?"

"I'm pretty much booked for the next month, Bella. If worse comes to worse you can just send it to me by mail." Oh yeah because that's real personal.

"Okay then I will call you sometime then."

"Yup, sounds good kid, but I really have to go love ya, Bells."

"Love you too, Dad."

I checked the time on the clock and saw that it was only ten in the morning. That means about nine hours until I went to see Edward and the girls. Great, now what am I going to do for nine hours?

I decided I might as well just go to the post office and send my Dad's gift now because I know we won't meet again before Thanksgiving. I went in the post office and made sure it was being shipped to the right place and all that, and then I left. As I was walking to the door I saw at least 15 paparazzi outside.

Now usually this doesn't bother me too much, I mean I don't like it, at all, but now as I'm walking out of this post office I feel the bile rising in my throat. The only thought going through my head as I am trying to make my way through them to my car is Edward, Edward, Edward, the girls, Edward, Edward, don't hate me…Edward, don't leave me.

I finally make it to my car and I drive off, I don't get very far though, because my breathing was all over the place. As soon as I was out of sight of those heartless individuals I pulled off to the side of the road. I took many calming breaths and tried to ease the ache in my chest. I know I have to tell Edward. I have to tell him as soon as possible, I should have already told him.

I have meant to but it just seems like every time I have seen him, there has been something going on. On our first date, he was distraught about his brother, it's not something you tell someone over the phone, and on Friday, we were with the girls most of the time and I can honestly say I forgot about it afterwards. I forget just about everything when I am with him. I guess I could tell him today, but how could I tell him on his birthday and father's day? Why should I ruin that for him?

So I have decided that tomorrow I will definitely tell him. I guess it is really selfish of me though because I just want to make sure today is perfect, and I am going to commit every single thing about him to memory, because I have a bad feeling about this.

I was pulled from my thought by the ringing of my phone. I picked it up and looked at the caller ID to see it was Edward calling. I immediately answered.

"Hello?"

"Bella, do you think you could come over here." He asked in a weird tone. It sounded like he was mad or sad about something but it wasn't good.

"Sure, Edward, what is it? Is there something wrong?"

"No…yes…a little bit can you just come over."

"I'll be there in five minutes."

I took me only a couple of minutes to make it to his house and I automatically ran up to his apartment. He opened the door immediately and took my hand to lead me into the hall to the girl's room where they were both taking a nap. This was the first time I have been in here (I still haven't seen Edward's room either), it was small but it was perfect. There were girly princess stickers on the walls and each girl had a little bed with their own comforters. Harper's was purple, and Avery's was pink. Edward took me to the wall across from their beds and sat down on the floor. He pulled me down with him.

Edward sat with his back against the wall with his knees bent, once I was on the floor he pulled me in between his two legs and put his arms around my waist. He held me tight and buried his face in my neck. He was breathing weird and I thought he was going to cry. I was so confused.

I decided to let him figure it out for himself, and give him time to calm down. I ran my hands along his arms that were holding me so tightly in an effort to calm him.

After about five minutes his breathing went back to normal and he picked his head up from my neck and kissed me on the cheek a couple of times.

"Thank you, Bella."

"What are you thanking me for, Edward? Can you please tell me what is wrong? Maybe I can help you."

"You have helped me."

"Edward, you're starting to scare me, what is going on?"

"I can't talk about it right now. They will be up in about a half an hour and I'm going to need more time than that if I am going to talk to you about this. Later I'll try, okay? I promise."

"Okay." I whispered.

He rose up from his spot on the floor and took me with him. He walked to each of the girls' beds and kissed each of their foreheads and whispered he loved them. He walked back to me and grabbed my hand and brought me into the kitchen.

"It's kind of a tradition for us to have pizza bagels on Father's Day. We make them together, so do you think you could help me start cutting up peppers and stuff? When they wake up they will be hungry, so they can just make their own pizzas and it won't take too long."

I nodded my head yes, he smiled slightly and turned to go to the fridge but I grabbed his arm before he made it there and pulled him towards me so I could kiss him. He kissed me right back. The kiss didn't get to out of hand though because I knew we needed to get going on the pizza bagels. I took my mouth away from his and held his face in my hands while looking into his beautiful green eyes.

"Happy Birthday, Edward." I watched his eyes close tightly for a second before he looked back up to me.

"Thank you, Bella."

Me and Edward worked on getting the stuff for the bagels ready and it only took us about 15 minutes, and the girls were still sleeping so we just put the cut up things back in the fridge. We sat on the couch and Edward was telling me about the girls' surprises for him. He seemed in a lighter mood now and I was getting happier seeing it.

"Well they both woke me up at about 7:00 by jumping on me." He said with a little laugh. "Avery got a little too excited and almost flew off the back of the couch." Wait, he sleeps on the couch? "Once I was awake I saw they had a breakfast in bed kind of thing going on. They put milk in one of Avery's old sippy cups and they had a bag of chocolate chip Little Bites muffins. I had no idea where they came from so I asked them and Harper said she saved them from her breakfast they gave her on school Friday, so she could give them to me."

"Oh my God, that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard."

A big smile was on his face. "I know you're telling me."

"So did you enjoy the muffins?"

"Yeah, I only had one though, I gave the others to them, only five come in a package."

"Edward? If I ask you something, will you promise not to freak out at me and get mad?"

He looked concerned for a second but agreed "Sure, Bella, what is it?"

"Do you have a bedroom?"

"Oh, no I sleep out here. This apartment only has one bedroom so I gave it to the girls to share."

"Did you ever think about finding a bigger apartment?"

"No because I know I can't afford one right now."

"Would you be opposed to me helping you a little bit…financially?"

He looked at me curiously and said "Yes I actually would be opposed to that, Bella. It's my responsibility to support my family, not yours."

"But I could just give you a little bit of money to help you out for a little while…"

He cut me off and said abruptly "How much money do you have Bella?"

This was it, my opening, there was no turning back now, I have to tell him.

"Well I…"

"DADDY!" Shit, guess not.

"We will talk about this later, Bella." Edward said while going to the girl's room. He came back moments later with both girls in his arms.

"Hey Bewwa! Want to help us make pisa bagels?"

"Sure."

We went in the kitchen and made our pizza bagels. I made a simple cheese piece, Harper made herself a pepperoni, Edward had ham, and Avery made one with peppers and olives. Avery was one unique child I tell you. Harper seemed to be warming up to me a little bit. She never really talked to me to much before but today she was asking me a lot of questions about books and she seemed to be enjoying being around me more which made me feel extra happy.

Once we were finished eating we continued on with the day. We just stayed inside and played Candy Land and watched movies. Currently, we were watching Finding Nemo. Edward sat in the middle of the couch with Avery on his lap. I was on his right side with my hand in his, and Harper was on his left with her head on his chest and his arm was around her. I've never seen Finding Nemo before, so I was curious to see what it was about, and I loved it! It was so funny and Harper and Avery knew almost all of the words so it was cute hearing them reenact it.

"Oh! Daddy! Our part if coming up! We got to do it and show Bella! You can show Bella how you speak whale!"

I looked up at Edward and saw him blushing slightly. How cute. "I don't know, baby. I don't think I can talk whale today."

"Oh come on Daddy! But you do it so good! You sound just wike Dowy! I'll be Marlin! Come on Pweeeaaasssee?" He looked down at her pouting face and then nodded his head. "Yay! Harper can you tuwn it up please?"

Harper nodded her head with a smile on her face, she seemed excited that Edward was going to do this. When she sat back down she surprised me and squeezed in next to me. "You have to hear this Bella, it's so funny, Daddy sounds just like Dory."

I looked at Edward and saw that he was smiling, but still looked a little embarrassed. I gave his hand a squeeze to let him know it was okay. And then the scene started and Edward and Avery went to work.

"Maybe he only speaks whale…Mooo... Weeee neeeed..." Edward repeated perfectly from the movie. Harper, Avery, and I were already laughing but Avery still didn't mess up her part.

"Dowy?"

"...tooo fiiind hiiis soon." We all laughed harder after he said son, because his voice went really low and he made the weirdest faces when he was speaking whale.

"Wha…What are you…" Avery couldn't even do her part because she was laughing so hard tears were coming down her eyes like the rest of us. Edward was only chuckling a little bit but he kept going because he saw how happy he was making us.

"Caaaan yoooou giive uuuus direeeeectioooons?" He made some more really weird faces while doing it and his voice went high on the last part. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants.

And it happened in that moment. I wasn't expecting it to hit me so suddenly, but it did. I should be scared of this. I should want to run away and hide. It's too soon. But it wasn't. Why do people put a time limit on these things? They weren't accurate. Not everyone is the same. People feel in different ways. And I know what this feeling was. It has been building ever since he walked into my bookstore.

It was love. I love him.

I became dazed for a couple of seconds by my realization, just trying to figure out what the fuck I was going to do. Do I tell him? Would he freak out if I did?

"Bella?" I heard my love call to me."Are you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine." More than fine. I was perfect. I looked around and saw that the girls were no longer in the living room. "Where did the girls go?"

"They went to the kitchen to make dinner. I hope you like turkey sandwiches." He smiled his beautiful smile at me and I couldn't help but pull him in for a quick kiss. He pulled away before I did. "I called Rose to ask her to stay with the girls after they go to bed. I was thinking we could go to the meadow and we can talk, I think I want to tell you about…Jack, and other things, if you don't mind. I mean I'll try, but I have never talked about that stuff to anyone so…I don't know."

"Sounds good."

It was now 8:30 and Edward was getting the girls ready for bed and I was helping him. Avery wanted me to put her hair up in a ponytail for her. She didn't really have very long hair, but it was enough. While we were in the kitchen, and the girls were having a quick drink before bed, there was a knock at the door. Edward went to get it and then he reemerged with a beautiful young blonde behind him. She noticed the girls first and they both put their cups down to go greet her. After she was done hugging them, she finally looked up at me. Realization came to her face and she looked a mixed between shocked, confused, and pissed off.

Shit, she knows who I am.

Edward was oblivious to her stare and made his way towards me.

"Rosalie, this is Bella, my girlfriend. Bella, this is my friend-slash-babysitter Rose." He introduced us.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you." I said while reaching out to shake her hand. It seemed like she wasn't going to shake my hand until she looked up at Edward and saw the look that was on his face. She grudgingly brought her hand to mine and shook it.

"Yeah, you too." She said.

"Daddy we are ready now!" Harper called from their bedroom.

"Okay well that's my cue to leave, I'll be back when they are asleep."

This left me alone with Rosalie and as soon as Edward was in their room she was grilling me.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing here?" Damn, she was pissed; I guess she had a reason to though.

"Um, I'm Edward's girlfriend, we were just celebrating his birthday, I…"

"That is not what I meant and you know it." She said in a hushed yell. "I mean what the fuck is Isabella Swan doing in my friend's kitchen?"

"Look, Rosalie, its not what you think I really like Edward, and those girls I don't want to hurt them I…" I was cut off once again.

"Do you think this is some kind of game? Do you think you can just waltz in here with your designer shoes on and destroy this little family's lives?"

"NO!" I practically yelled. "That's not it at all I can explain, I am going to tell Edward about my situation soon, I just haven't got the chance…"

"Haven't got the chance? Really? Well I realize that this is not something that I should tell him, but I swear to God, Isabella fucking Swan, that if you don't tell him within the next couple of weeks, I will."

"I'm going to, soon, I swear."

"I literally cannot believe this right now."

"Rosalie, I know you care about, Edward, and I care about him too I…" Does this girl know how to let people talk?

"You care about him do you? If you care about him then why haven't you told him the truth yet? I will admit that I don't know what has gone on in Edward's past, but what I do know is that he has gotten over it, kind of, and he is an amazing person.

Did you know that every single morning, before he goes off to work, he gets all of the girls clothes ready for the day, when he knows I am perfectly capable of doing it? Did you know that he walked six miles from his job to Harper's school to see her play, when his car was broken down and he couldn't get a ride? Did you know that he sits in their room, every single night before they go to bed to read to them and listen about their day? Edward worships the people he cares about and is there for them no matter what.

And, again I don't know the whole story, but I know enough to know that his parents abandoned him, and he has no one. And now you come in here, making him care about you and maybe even love you by the look on his face just moments ago. This is going to destroy him, Isabella. He has already lost a lot in his life and now you are only going to make it worse for him unless you tell him. Soon."

I felt the tears building in my eyes because she is right. I have gotten in too deep, Edward is in too deep. I took too long to tell him about this and he is probably going to hate me.

I forced the tears back when Edward walked back into the kitchen and asked me if I was ready, I nodded my head yes, and left with him. I could tell he was nervous, and so was I. I knew why we were going to the meadow. Edward trusted me enough to talk to me about his past. I should have made it stop. But I couldn't, I love him and I want to be here for him. I will tell him tomorrow.

We finally made it to the meadow and we sat down in the middle of it, the moon was casting a light for us. We sat like we did the first time, both of us sitting crossed legged in front of each other with our hands clasped together. Edward took a deep breath and then began talking.

"Bella, I just have to ask you one thing before I start." I nodded my head at him and then he continued. "Are you sure that you want to hear this story, because I am going to warn you it is as fucked up as any story can get, and I don't want it to scare you away."

"I'm sure Edward. I think it will be better for you if you talk about it with me and I just want to be here to help you in any way I can." He picked up my hands and kissed the knuckles on both of my hands. He took a few long deep breaths before he said anything else.

"Okay Bella, I think I'm ready now."

This is the last night you'll spend alone
Look me in the eyes so I know you know
I'm everywhere you want me to be.
The last night you'll spend alone,
I'll wrap you in my arms and I won't let go,
I'm everything you need me to be.

The Last Night, by Skillet

Aww snap! I think I just did my first cliff hanger! It feels good, but I kind of feel bad. Sorry. So I have come to the decision that I am just going to write one really long chapter instead of breaking it up. That seemed to be the consensus among most of you. But mostly I'm doing it because if I did split it up, I would have had no idea where to cut it off you know? But have no fear! This doesn't mean I will take longer to update. The big chapter will be out tomorrow.

Are you guys excited? I know I am! I'm going to stop babbling on this A/N and get to writing it right now because I'm that excited.

Please review with any and all questions you have so I make sure I get them all answered next chapter. I think I will, but I just want to make sure.

Review Please!