"How's Jacob?" Dr. Ross asked.

Bella frowned at the odd question. Shouldn't Dr. Ross ask Bella how she was doing, and not about how Jacob was doing? Nevertheless she answered it.

"I guess he's fine. Last time I saw him he was cuddling my dog. I'd rather talk about my dog actually."

Dr. Ross raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"What do you mean you would rather talk about your dog?"

Bella sighed happily.

"Because he's so cute."

Dr. Ross looked unimpressed.

"You know how I always talk about my bad luck? How bad things always seem to happen to me?" Bella asked switching the subject. "I'm thinking that maybe I need to think differently. For example I was in an accident but I got a puppy because of it. Then I was attacked quite recently, I mean beaten up, but I got to see some old acquaintances again. That's positive in some sense, right?"

Dr. Ross's eyes widened.

"Jesus, Bella! You were beaten up?" she asked clearly alarmed.

Bella did a "whatever" move with her hand thinking it was probably best not to explain. She kept on talking about her new way of thinking, but noticed that her therapist had lost interest. She was staring out into thin air, nodding and going "uhu" in all the right places, but looked like she was about to fall asleep. Bella didn't like that and decided to go back to what dr. Ross wanted to know, for some reason.

"Actually I talked to Jacob yesterday. He called."

Dr. Ross immediately looked up.

"What did you two talk about?"

Bella shrugged her shoulders. Of course she remembered their conversation. It just hadn't been that interesting.

"We tried to get together. He's been so busy lately. We were going to have dinner tonight, but he cancelled."

Dr. Ross looked interested.

"Busy, you say? Huh?"

"Super busy" Bella sighed.

However when Bella left therapy she got an unexpected call. It was Jacob asking if she was still free for dinner tonight. Apparently his work-thing had gotten cancelled after all. Bella happy obliged and went home to take little Ed for a walk. A walk meant Bella carrying him around and then putting him down on some lawn. His leg was still not good, but the cast was coming off very soon. She took her time; took a long bath and did her make-up carefully. She ignored her jeans and instead put on an emerald colored flowy dress that was one of her favorites. Dinner with Jacob was one of few occasions she actually got out of the house aside from going to work so she usually put some effort into her looks.

"You look pretty" Anthony told her as she walked down the stairs.

Bella smiled widely.

"Thank you!" Then she looked at the little puppy who looked back at her with sad eyes.

Bella felt a pang of guilt for leaving him at home, but hoped that just maybe he would learn to accept Anthony's company that way. Bella rode her bicycle to the restaurant. Jacob was already there. He was sitting by their usual table with a bottle of wine ready. He smiled widely as Bella approached him.

"Hey there" Bella said.

Jacob rose from his chair and they embraced quickly before sitting down.

"Ah it feels so good to be out of the house" Jacob sighed happily and poured Bella a glass of wine.

Bella frowned.

"But you've been at the office working non-stop" she said.

He nodded.

"That's true, but whenever I come home it's just as miserable. Lea's four month's along now. That time is the worst for her! If I end up as a missing person you know who did it."

Right, monster's pregnant again Bella remembered. She quickly ordered some food.

"So how's James?" Jacob asked.

Bella nearly choked on her wine.

"That went down the drain weeks ago. Where have you been? I saw you just days ago and we even talked about it..." Bella said.

"Hey! I've been working hard, but I remember now. Okay let's drop it. He was a douche! With a fine bike, but still a douche. Not good enough for you" he said looking very dramatically disapproving. "How's Anthony? Still seeing that girl?"

Bella smiled.

"He's perfect... Yeah they..." Bella stopped midsentence as she suddenly recognized a woman sitting a few tables away. She was wearing a weird hat and dark sunglasses but Bella would still recognize her anywhere.

"Is that Dr. Ross?" she said out loud not believing what she was seeing.

From what she knew Dr. Ross didn't live in the neighborhood but had a good piece of driving ahead of her every morning when she would go to work. So what was she doing in a small local restaurant in tiny Forks; and with sunglasses and a ridiculous hat on?

Jacob turned around to see what Bella was looking at and froze in his movement.

"It is" he said almost gasping.

Bella's focus quickly turned from Dr. Ross to Jacob. He didn't look at her at once, but soon their eyes met slowly and dramatically.

"How do you know Dr. Ross?" Bella asked squinting her eyes suspisciously at him.

Jacob looked nervous and loosened his tie. Bella recalled Dr. Ross odd reaction to Jacob's surname and how she'd suddenly asked about him earlier that day in therapy. Bella was still staring at him waiting for an answer.

"Through work, obviously!" Jacob answered flustered.

Bella didn't blink but simply watched him squirm.

"You work in construction. She's a therapist" Bella said.

Jacob pretended to look surprised.

"You're seeing a therapist?" he exclaimed dramatically.

Bella shook her head and downed her glass of wine quickly.

"You're unbelievable. As much as I dislike Lea I'm completely gutted that you would do this to her. It's quite obvious that you're having an affair with that woman in that ridiculous hat!"

Right about then their food arrived. It was the worst timing. Jacob tried to change the subject at once.

"Woah Bella, maybe we should send back the stake you ordered. It's practically raw."

Bella ignored him.

"I'm leaving" she announced.

Jacob put his hand on Bella's arm as she was about to grab her purse.

"Please Bella don't tell her!" he pleaded a little too loudly.

Bella noticed that people were starting to stare at them. She closed her eyes briefly in an effort to calm down. She could easily drive to Jacob and Lea's house and tell her straight away but she realized it wasn't up to her and it shouldn't be any of her business, not really.

"I won't, but you should if you have any pride left" she finally said.

She then walked a few steps but changed her mind and turned to Jacob again.

"Remember after we broke up? She asked.

Jacob's face immediately turned slightly red with embarrassment.

"That was years ago. It meant nothing and I told you that."

Bella shook her head feeling disappointed.

"You just can't help yourself can you?"

"Or maybe that's exactly what I'm doing?" Jacob suggested nervously.

Bella's jaw dropped. She turned to leave once more but realized she wasn't done when she once again saw Dr. Ross who was very interested in her menu all of a sudden. Bella walked past to trick Dr Ross into thinking she wasn't going to acknowledge her at all. Then she took a few quick steps back and took a hold of Dr Ross's hat and threw it away dramatically. Dr. Ross's sunglasses fell from her face as well and her brown eyes nervously met Bella's.

"I'm not coming to therapy on monday" Bella said.

When Bella left the restaurant she was so upset she was shaking all over. She began walking home leading her bike, close to crying out of anger and disappointment. Her Jacob! Her Jacob had done this to awful yet poor Lea who actually didn't deserve this. And out of all women he'd picked her therapist, just like all those years ago when Jacob seduced two out of Bella's friends in two days after their break-up as some kind of revenge. She had that feeling again, that Jacob had seduced Dr. Ross knowing that she was connected to Bella somehow. That he wanted to take something that was hers again, but she quickly managed to talk some sense into herself. The surprise on Jacob's face when he found out Dr. Ross was her therapist was genuine. It didn't make the situation less crappy. Bella willed herself not to cry. She was cold too but didn't want to hop on her bike just yet knowing how clumsy she was even when she wasn't upset at all. While leading her bike in the quiet night Bella felt like there was something odd in the air. In her upset state she could still feel someone else's presence. Who was here? It was pitch dark and not a person was out at this hour. It was ten o' clock and not many people lived nearby. Still Bella didn't feel scared. She was used to feeling or being watched. Maybe it was Carlisle? He had been worried after all.

Bella stopped in her tracks and looked around.

She stood still for some minutes just taking deep breaths while letting the information that Jacob was having an affair settle. She was hungry too. Now just thinking of the stake she never got to eat she felt a raving appetite she hadn't experienced in a long time. She should've stayed and eaten it anyway; perhaps sitting at another table while letting Dr. Ross and Jacob have a date. Am I jealous? Bella asked herself. She thought about it. No. She was sure she had no feelings of that sort left for Jacob. She hadn't felt those in a very long time. Her relationship with him nowadays was that of a brother and sister. She couldn't help but wondering though. Was this the first time? A one-time thing? Or had he been unfaithful before? To Lea or…to her? She took another deep breath and began walking again. She didn't know why but she looked straight into the forest to her left, as if she knew there was something there. She felt shock surging through her. There was a pale face looking back at her. Although she knew Anthony looked very much alike, she was one hundred percent sure.

It was Edward.

She closed her eyes not quite trusting what she was seeing. When she opened her eyes again she only saw the dark woods.

He was gone.

Hey guys! I got a review that got me thinking. A reader was grossed out by the possibilty that Edward, a boy who looks seventeen, would ever get together with a woman 36. She found the thought really sick.

I respect that opinion, but I'm curious to know whether you agree? Obviously I don't, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this story :D Maybe that age difference would gross me out if it was some other couple but we're talking about Bella and Edward here! To me it's different. Their love story is epic and Edward was prepared to let Bella live her human life while always being by her side watching her grow old and wrinkly. And still love her all the same.

That's where I'm coming from. I still haven't decided where Bella and Edward will end up in this story. They haven't met again yet, but I welcome all opinions and thoughts on this :)

Ladyice5: Why Bella healed so fast is getting brought up sometime soon, it's a bit strange! And Anthony looking so much like Edward I think maybe it's made Bella not feel as much resentment towards Edward because she sees, litterally, so much of him in her son who is her biggest joy in life. It can't be healthy to stay angry with someone if you're going to be reminded of that person everyday. But as you said, it must be hard as well to constantly be reminded of the person who broke your heart. It must be kind of bittersweet.