A/N t&a: holy, holy, holy motherfucking shit. you people are absolutely fucking amazing. we're so, so overwhelmed and ecstatic and just full of love for you guys and all of your support. thank you, thank you a million times over.

a huge, huge thank you to everyone that has recc'ed us (*ahem* GreenEyedGirl17 *AHEM*)—you guys are wonderful. we wanna have your babies.

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and finally, we don't own twilight or SM or anything except for what we actually do own. thank you again—enjoy!

Talk of yesterday like bargain shoe strings
She will kick the car and find her friends.
Say tomorrow and then
She'll describe some old communion cups
And someone's coat.
But say today and she may look your way
And lead you home.
"Communion Cups and Someone's Coat" Iron & Wine

"Mini E, how many times do I have to tell you this?" I hear Emmett ask Finn. Part of me sometimes wonders if the E in his nickname for the kid stands for Edward or for Emmett. Secretly, I'm pretty sure Em wants a little replica of himself that he wouldn't ever have to actually deal with.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I not mini?" Finn responds.

"You are mini, kid. You're smaller than me anyway and that's what counts."

I only have a small part of my attention focused on their conversation. The majority of it is focused completely on the computer screen in front of me. I scan the page with my eyes narrowed.

"Listen, Finnigan—"

Finn blows out a frustrated raspberry and probably has his arms crossed over his chest in frustration. Emmett loves to piss the kid off almost as much as he likes to piss me off.

"Daddy, tell him I not Finnigan."

"Next time he's with one of his pretty lady friends call him Emily, Huck. It'll make him stop," I offer distractedly.

"Dude, the rule number one of guy code is never cock block," Emmett says.

"What's cock block?"

"Emmett," I snap. "Seriously?"

"Sorry, man. The kid's got old eyes. I forget he's only three."

"How can you forget how old he is? He doesn't even reach your hip."

"There are 40 year old midgets that don't reach my hip, Ed," he says, as if I'm the stupid one. "Anyway, as I was saying. Don't listen to your dad, Finn. Number one rule is actually to never mess one of your boys chances up with a girl. You got me?"

I look over at them and Finn is lying back with his head on Walt. "Got you," he says with a nod.

"Rule number two is that you're never supposed to be mean to girls. Remember? This is what we were talking about last time. If you're nice, they'll do anything for you."

I roll my eyes and scan Bella's Facebook page. I friend requested her under the name Andrew Lake and she accepted it a few minutes ago. I wouldn't resort to this type of creepy stalker action but the girl's been MIA for the past five days and I don't have any way of reaching her ass.

It's fucking weird too that she would randomly disappear unless I really freaked her out by cumming all over myself just from grinding on her. Which, admittedly, is kind of juvenile on my part but I haven't fucked anyone in months. Anyway, I don't see how something like that would make her disappear.

So, I'm Facebook stalking her. Because I saw her every day for at least a month up until five days ago. She might be sick. I cancelled out the dead option after she accepted my request.

"What's this?"

I try and minimize the page before Emmett sees it because I'm not in the mood to hear his mouth, but he pushes my hand aside and whistles. "This is the infamous Bella?"

"Issybella's here?" Finn asks excitedly and Walt's tail starts thumping.

"No," I sigh, "Bella's not here."

"Daddy, I wanna play date with Issybella. I miss her."

I rub my forehead. "You had to, right?" I ask Emmett.

He shrugs.

"Daddy, ask Issybella if she wants to have a play date with me."

"Aright, Finn. Go get your pajamas on."

I try to knock Emmett's hand off of the track pad because he's scrolling through Bella's page like he's a detective or some shit.

"Can I wear the batman jamas again?" Finn asks.

"Sleeping naked's more comfortable, dude," Emmett tells him. I slap Emmett on the back of the head hard.

Finn frowns at him. "I like my batman jamas. Naked time is only for the bath, right, daddy?"

"Right, Huck. Don't listen to Uncle Emmett. Go get changed."

Once Finn is in his room, I look over at Emmett who has now kidnapped the computer and is still looking over Bella's page with way too much interest on his face.

"You're such an asshole," I tell him.

He waves a hand at me and nods. "I am an asshole. But who the fuck is Andrew Lake?"

I sigh. "The girl fucking disappeared out of nowhere. I'm just trying to figure out where she's at."

"So… wait." He holds a hand up. "You made a fake Facebook account? Did you ever think that maybe she disappeared because you're a fucking nutjob? You couldn't have called her? Or, hell, made your own account?"

I sigh and drop my head back on the couch. "Obviously I have a problem."

"No," he says and puts the computer down on the coffee table. "Problems are things with solutions. You have issues. Lots and lots of incurable issues. You're so fucking creepy, dude."

"Oh, fuck off, Emmett."

"Just go find her or something, dude. This stalker shit is weird. She's cute though, so if it doesn't work out for you, gime her number."

"Daddy," Finn comes back into the room before I can curse off or kill Emmett. "Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

"Yeah, Huck, I'll meet you in there."

"Uncle Emmett, you like my jamas?"

Emmett stands and lifts the kid high up in the air. "These are cool as hell, man. Can I borrow them tomorrow?"

Finn giggles and pats Emmett's cheek. "You're too big, Uncle Emmett."

"Well, can you find my size for me?"

Finn nods seriously at him. "Daddy, can we find jamas for Uncle Emmett?"

"Yeah, we'll get him some Barbie ones for his birthday," I say and stand up. "Gime my kid, Em." I hold my arms out and Finn climbs into them. "Say good night to Uncle Emmett. He's leaving."

Emmett laughs and Finn leans over to kiss his cheek. "Good night."

"Night, Finn. Ed, I'll talk to you later."

I lock the door behind Emmett and then lift Finn high up in the air and make plane noises into the bedroom. When I drop him on the bed, he giggles loudly.

I never understood it, honestly, the whole fulfillment of parenthood thing until I heard this kid laugh for the first time because of me. His eyes light up and he smiles and it's literally fucking perfection. It's the type of thing that I want to bottle up and keep forever. Making this tiny ass person that I helped create happy feels fucking amazing.

"Get under the covers, Huck. I'll be right back."

"Can Walt sleep with us too? He feels lonely on the floor," Finn asks from under the covers.

I walk back to the bed and lean over him. "And where should I sleep? Under the bed?" I ask and tickle him.

He howls with laughter. "Okay! Okay! No more!"

I smile down at him and drop a kiss on his forehead. "I'll be right back."

I walk into the kitchen first and grab four cookies and two glasses of milk and then slip my computer under my arm before walking back into the bedroom. "Look what I got," I say and wave the cookies in the air.

Finn sits up and claps with a shit eating grin on his face. If this kid could eat cookies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner he would. I sit down on top of the covers and hand him his cookies and his milk and then I lean back against the headboard. He slips into position under my arm.

"Daddy, can you get some of the white stuff only next time?" he asks and munches on the half of the chocolate that doesn't have any filling on it.

"Why?"

"Because I want more."

"I'll look for it," I tell him.

"That was yummy," he says when he finishes the second cookie.

"Drink your milk."

"I don't wanna."

"Drink your milk," I repeat. "Or I'll tickle you until you do."

"Fine," he sighs and gulps it all down before handing me the empty glass. I put both on the nightstand before I pull Finn into my side.

"Am I a comfy pillow?" I ask when he drops his head on my stomach.

He giggles tiredly and nods. "So comfy. Night, daddy. I love you."

"Love you too."

I stroke his back until his breathing evens out and he's definitely asleep and then I shift him to his pillow before sliding the laptop onto my lap. I gotta figure out what the fuck is going on with this girl.

I log onto the fake account and click to see who's online. Bingo.

Andrew Lake: Hey, what's going on?

I type the message out and then tap my fingers against the keyboard and wait for a response. She shouldn't be talking to fucking strangers online but I really, really want her to answer me right now.

Isabella Swan: Ummm not much. You?

Andrew Lake: Nothing. Bored. I'm Andrew, by the way.

Isabella Swan: Haha I'm Bella. Do we know each other? I mean… in real life?

Andrew Lake: Unfortunately, no. But I did a search on people with the same birthday as me and you were the prettiest one.

I did, too. I set my birthday to the same as hers for this reason exactly.

Isabella Swan: Wow. Well never heard that one before. How about I just let you have the birthday? Take it off my hands?

I grin stupidly at the screen because that's my Bella just with her Internet balls intact.

Andrew Lake: No fun in that. We can share it. Do anything interesting tonight?

Isabella Swan: Interesting? Define interesting? You know what… don't. No, nothing interesting.

Andrew Lake: Boyfriend didn't take you out?

Isabella Swan: That was a horrible way to ask if I have a boyfriend. The answer's no. Nothing like a boyfriend. Almost, maybe, I don't know…

Bingoooo. She's too easy sometimes. Not that I'm happy to be called her almost, maybe, I don't know boyfriend when random strangers are hitting on her on the Internet. But it's a start.

Andrew Lake: What's that mean exactly?

Isabella Swan: It means no.

And the fucking strangest thing happens. We obviously haven't labeled our relationship but her straight up fucking no makes my heart stop for a second.

Isabella Swan: It means sometimes you should listen to your friends and your gut and that people are always what they seem.

Jesus Christ. This better be a lot bigger than me getting off in my shorts against her ass. Because I can't run to the bathroom every time I need to come to spare her feelings.

Andrew Lake: Whoa who fucked with you? Wanna talk about it?

Come on, Bella, tell me what the fuck I did to you.

Isabella Swan: No one. It's no one's fault. I got too involved before I knew the whole story. Just found that out in the worst way.

Andrew Lake: So? What's the whole story? Maybe I can help with the guy perspective thing.

Isabella Swan: I don't need help figuring out. It figured itself out for me. In front of me. Pretty cut and dry. But thanks for offering.

I groan in frustration. Answer the fucking question please.

Andrew Lake: Things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes explaining something out loud gives you perspective and takes away some of its power, you know? It can't hurt—you'll never even see me. Plus, my curiosity is off the radar.

Isabella Swan: Haha well you know what you said about curiosity? Kind of like what they say when things seem too good to be true?

Why the fuck is she so vague right now? Most of the time you can't get the girl to shut the fuck up with all of her rambling and shit and now she's talking in circles.

Isabella Swan: He just helped me figure out that I don't want to be one of many. That maybe I don't share well.

I narrow my eyes at the screen and read her words over.

Andrew Lake: Your almost, maybe, I don't know boyfriend cheated on you?

Isabella Swan: Can you cheat on someone you're not officially with?

Isabella Swan: Probably not. Like I said. No one's fault. Should have known better.

Andrew Lake: So, how'd you find out?

Isabella Swan: Saw it. Watched it. Wanted to burn my eyes out after. Enough of this and me. Tell me a story about you.

I think back trying to figure out what the fuck she's talking about and then I realize what she saw and when. Fuck, fuck, fuck my life. Of course she saw that shit.

Andrew Lake: I'll tell you this, B. If I've learned anything it's to fight for what you want. And when people piss you off you tell them, you don't hide from them. We miss you here. And I'm sorry if I hurt you.

I stare at the screen without blinking until my eyes water. I want her to fucking answer me right now. Five minutes pass and Finn's arm flings out and hits the computer and almost sends it straight to the floor. I steady it and leave the kid's hand where it is.

Finally, eleven fucking minutes later she responds.

Isabella Swan: Edward?

Andrew Lake: Who else would this be?

Isabella Swan: I don't know. Maybe Andrew Lake.

Isabella Swan: I can't. I don't. I have to go.

Andrew Lake: This conversation isn't over, Bella.

Isabella Swan: See the thing is… I was talking to Andrew Lake. This kind of obnoxious flirt online. Not you. Those words weren't for you. So yeah. The conversation is over.

Andrew Lake: First of all, you shouldn't be flirting with strangers online. Second of all, the words were about me so they are for me. I have a right to know why you've suddenly disappeared from my life. Especially when my kid asks for you every day.

Isabella Swan: You don't get to tell me what to do online. Or anywhere else. I don't owe you words like you don't owe me an explanation.

Isabella Swan: And I'm sorry about Finn. Tell him I read Harry Potter and think about him.

And then her name goes inactive. God damn it. Talking to Bella online is not even close to being as good as having her in front of me is. And fuck me for not thinking that she might come into the bar.

I kiss people.

I like kissing people. I feel like it's a great way to connect without connecting. It's something that I've been doing forever. I can see why it might upset her but how the fuck am I supposed to know that she thought we were in a serious, monogamous relationship? Why the fuck didn't she tell me that shit?

I have a plan. A good fucking plan at that. I saw the name of the company that Bella works for on her Facebook before she blocked Andrew Lake.

"Finish your breakfast, Huck."

"Where are we going today?" he asks through a mouthful of cereal.

"We're gonna go visit Bella at work. She said she wants to talk to you about Harry Potter. She's been reading to catch up with you."

"Really?" he asks and his spoon drops unceremoniously splattering milk all over the table.

I throw a napkin at him. "Really."

He wipes the milk up and shovels another spoonful into his mouth. "What book is she up to?"

"I don't know. You'll have to ask her."

He nods and finishes the food in record breaking time. "Is Walt coming?"

"No. He's too big. I don't think they'd let him in the building."

I hand him his jacket and straighten his glasses out. "But Walt loves Issybella."

"That's okay. He'll see her later."

Finn nods and zips up his jacket and then bends down to put his sneakers on. "Daddy, I want sneakers like yours."

"We'll get you some after we see Bella, okay?" I put my hand on his head and lead him out of the apartment.

"Bye, Walt!" Finn calls through the door. He holds his hand up for me to take when we get outside. "Are we walking?"

"Yeah, it's close."

"Can I pick a flower for Issybella?"

"Yeah, dude."

Finn picks a daisy for her and we discuss how we're supposed to look both ways twice before crossing the street, and then we're walking into Bella's building.

"You leaving your hat on?" I ask him as we take the elevator up to the 13th floor.

"What do you think?"

"You look good, kid," I tell him.

"You too."

He pushes his glasses up when the elevator doors open and we both stop and stand right outside the doors. There are phones ringing off the hook and people everywhere talking on them. I've never been in one of these places before and I don't think I ever want to come back.

Finn wraps his arms around my leg and presses his face into my thigh. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Wanna come up here with me?"

"Until we get to Issybella," he whispers.

I lift him up onto my hip. "It's like a zoo in here," I whisper in his ear as I start walking. "Where do you think the monkeys are?"

He giggles and points at a random guy with bad clothes, a terrible haircut, and a creepy ass smile.

I laugh and nod. "Right on, man. Alright. Mission find Bella Swan. You ready?"

"Ready."

I walk up to the first person that's not on the phone and tap my fingers on his desk. "Is Bella Swan here?" I ask him.

His eyes narrow momentarily. "I think she's in the far back on the left."

"Thanks." Finn's arms wrap tightly around my neck. He's not a crowd kid at all. I follow the guy's directions and scan the people for the little girl with the brown hair and brown eyes.

Finally I see her standing by the window as if she's in jail and looking out at civilization. Not that I blame her. I'd jump out the window if it were me.

I walk up behind her and lean in just slightly to see what she sees. And it pretty much fucking floors me because my bar is right there. I didn't even realize that this was the same building. I'm sort of a dip shit like that.

"Looking for someone?" I ask.

She jumps and covers her heart with her hand. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Issybella! Daddy, I wanna give Issybella a hug."

Her eyes meet mine and they're hard and don't look happy at all but they soften when she looks at Finn and opens her arms. He slides into them and puts his hands on her cheeks before leaning in to kiss her directly on the lips.

"Hey, Finn, you came to see me," she says and she sounds a little shocked to see us here but she smiles down at him.

"I missed you. Oh! I picked you a present. Daddy, where is it?" I hand him the flower and watch as he hands it to her. Her eyes brighten as she accepts it. "Do you like it? I picked it from the dirt just for you."

"I love it," she says and kisses his cheek. "It's the best present I've ever gotten. How did you know what to get me?"

"Because it looked pretty and you're pretty, Issybella."

"Thank you, handsome." She sets him down in her chair and shows him a computer game to keep him occupied while we no doubt have a much less pleasant conversation.

When he's all distracted she turns to me with her hands on her hips. "You can't just show up where I work, Edward. Especially using your way too cute for his own good child as your wing man. You just can't."

"The kid wanted to see you, Bella. Who am I to say no?" I shrug at her. "Besides, I told you our conversation wasn't over. Not my fault you didn't want to finish it last night."

She rolls her eyes and looks around the room once before looking back at me. "And I told you that I wasn't talking to you. That was a cheap trick and you know it. If Finn wanted to see me, you just had to ask and I would have come to see him."

"I would've if I had your phone number. And you blocked me on Facebook so this was really our only option."

She looks down at the ground and takes a deep breath. "I just needed some time. Time to fix, to build, to just feel better. I wouldn't have stayed away forever."

"You should have said something," I tell her. "You wouldn't need time to feel better if you'd just get your shit off your chest." I lean in closer to her until our faces are only inches apart. "We never established anything serious between us. I get that what you saw hurt you but above all we're friends. And you should've fucking told me."

She takes a step back and away from me. "And said what? That I felt stupid for letting myself think something that wasn't true? For acting like a silly 12 year old girl with a crush? Because that sounds like something I wanted to say. Not embarrassing or anything." Her face turns bright red and her thumb goes to her mouth. "No. And no. You can't act like this was all friendly fun. You, you got off on my ass. You kissed and touched me. That's not just friends stuff. Don't try to make me feel stupid."

Her voice is a low hiss and her eyes are dark and angry and hurt.

"Obviously it's fucking more, Bella. Do you think I let everyone I kiss and touch into his life?" I ask her and point at Finn who's blissfully unaware of this conversation. "Do you think anyone has ever slept in my bed just because I like having her there besides you? I'm saying we haven't set up our boundaries. And I can't do that until you figure your shit out."

Just then the phone next to Finn rings and he jumps. "Issybella, can I answer it?"

"No, Huck," I answer for her.

Bella rubs the bridge of her nose and then lifts the phone from its cradle. I watch her, waiting and expecting her to ask them to hold. When that doesn't look like it's going to happen, I walk over to her and hover my finger over the hold button for her.

"Tell them to hold on," I tell her.

Her eyes widen and she shakes her head at me.

"Tell them to hold on," I repeat.

She tries to swat my hand away but I just bring it back. I lift my other hand and start the five second countdown. When I get to one she breathes out in frustration and asks the customer to hold.

"We can't do this here," she says. "You're right. I have no reason to be angry."

I nod and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "So we're good then?"

She sighs heavily and squeezes her eyes shut. "Yeah, of course. I mean, it was just a miscommunication."

"You're sure?" I ask because she doesn't look convinced.

She nods shakily at me and then looks over and smiles at Finn. "Friends, right? I just overreacted."

"We can be whatever we want to be but whatever that is, we're friends first. That's all I'm trying to say." Because we are. Because her friendship is important to me. And because if anything serious is going to happen between us, we need to have that platform of trust and comfort that we can only achieve by establishing our relationship as friends.

"Friends," she says softly, sounding out every letter.

I nod and search her face to make sure she's actually alright. She gives me a weak smile and picks the phone back up.

I exhale in frustration and pick up a notepad.

This means I better be seeing you if not tonight then tomorrow.

She rolls her eyes, takes the pad from me, and writes: Maybe. We'll see.

"No," I say out loud. "I'll see you tonight or tomorrow. Don't make me come find you again because I'll bring Finn and Walter with me."

And with that I grab the kid, turn, and walk away.