All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer; I just like to play with her characters.

No copyright infringement is intended.

HUGE thanks to my betas darcysmom and twimom817 as well as my pre-reader EdwardsMyObsession1971 – without these ladies my commas and characters would be a mess.

A/N: This is what y'all have been waiting for ;) Read on =)

Second Chances

Chapter Ten

My week seemed to crawl by. I was dreading Friday even though Angela promised to go with me. Instead of meeting Ben and Jamie for dinner on Wednesday night, Angela and I went shopping. I didn't have anything suitable for wearing to a funeral. Most of my clothes were jeans or the boring slacks and blouses I wore to work.

Satisfied when I found a cute, feminine, yet appropriate black dress, Angela and I made our way back to our apartment building.

"Maybe I shouldn't go …." I mused aloud for the thousandth time.

"Bella, you have to go. You deserve the closure and so does Edward. I've always believed that those who have left us look down on us as we remember them. He'll know you're there, Bella, and if he's anywhere as wonderful as you've made him out to be, he'll be happy that you are."

Angela's words soothed my soul. She was right. No matter how badly Edward and I left things, he would have been happy to know that I attended his memorial service.

Friday morning, I straightened my dress nervously as I slipped into my shoes. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and gently ran my fingers across the pendant that hung from my neck. Edward had given it to me for graduation. It was an infinity symbol with a large diamond at the bottom. He said it was a symbol of his unending love for me. I cried as he fastened it around my neck. I took it off after arriving in Phoenix because I didn't want it to get damaged or lost, and after we broke up, I hadn't given it anymore thought.

If Edward truly was looking down on us at his memorial service, I at least wanted to look nice for him. One of Edward's favorite things about me was my long, chestnut hair. When I started caring for my mom, I wore it up because it was in the way. I thought about cutting it off, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I ran my fingers through my long tresses and arranged it to cascade over both of my shoulders. Satisfied that I looked presentable, I picked up my handbag and wrap, and went to meet Angela in the lobby.

"You look nice," Angela smiled. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Good, because we're late."

When we arrived at the church, it was brimming with people. I looked around for Carlisle and Esme but couldn't pick them out in the crowd. An usher came by and asked us to find a seat, so we sat in the back, in the middle of the pew. Angela was right, we arrived slightly later than I'd wanted to and the ushers were completely out of programs when we arrived. From the looks of it, no one around us had them either. Maybe they weren't expecting a full house.

The preacher stepped up to the pulpit and asked the audience to rise as the family entered the sanctuary and took their seats. I watched intently as people who I recognized as Edward's cousins walked down the aisle, followed by his aunts and uncles. Then Carlisle and Esme entered and they looked as well as I'd ever seen them. Grief was apparent in their expressions, but it wasn't overwhelming. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw next – Edward's grandmother entered the sanctuary with her favorite copper haired grandson at her side. Edward. Relief washed over me like summer rain. He was as handsome as I'd ever seen, and I wept at how very wrong I'd been.

Angela took my hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze.

"Is that him?" She whispered.

There were no words. All I could do was nod.

I watched Edward gratefully as he took his seat next to his father in the front pew. The preacher asked for us to pray briefly and then directed us to sit. I didn't hear anything the preacher had to say – my sole focus was on Edward. I looked around for anyone who looked like a wife, and noticed that there was an absence of little copper haired children.

When Edward stood and approached the pulpit to give his eulogy, my breath left my body. I didn't consciously inhale again until he finished. He was here. He was alive and well. I could go back to my banal existence now that I knew he was okay. I wondered for a moment how I could ever think otherwise.

The services were very nice, with moving readings and a slide show that made the congregation laugh and weep. At the end, everyone was asked to gather in the courtyard to allow the family to make their way around to thank everyone for attending.

"Do you want to stay?" Angela asked quietly.

"Yes. Now that I'm here – and he's here. I want him to know that I came – for him."

"Good. Maybe you two can get together and talk sometime."

"Maybe."

We stepped outside into the sunshine and waited for everyone to exit the sanctuary. Angela and I were chatting quietly when I heard a familiar voice behind us.

"Bella! Angela! I didn't know you two would be here," Jamie smiled as he greeted us.

"Jamie! Hi, I wasn't expecting to see you here either."

"Oh, yeah, I've known the Cullen's for years. Edward and I went to grade school together. How do you know the Cullen's?"

"Bella?"

I looked away from Jamie and right into my favorite mossy green eyes.

"Edward … hi."

"How did you …" Edward started.

"You guys know each other?" Jamie asked.

My eyes widened as I look at Edward.

"Yeah. Bella and I are … were close."

"Ah. I see. Well Eddo, I have to take care of something at the office, but I will see you at the house in a bit, okay?"

"Okay, man. Thanks for coming."

"Yep. Ladies." Jamie nodded.

"I think I'm gonna get going too," Angela said softly.

"I'm Bella's friend Angela, by the way." She said offering her hand to Edward. "It's nice to meet you, Edward."

"Yeah, nice to meet you too, Angela. Thank you for coming."

"You're welcome." Angela smiled.

And then it was just me and Edward.

"I wrote the obituary," I murmured softly. "That's how I knew."

"The one in the Tribune?"

I nodded.

"It was very nice. Well written."

"Thank you."

"Look, Bella. I'd like to talk some more, but I have … commitments. I have a few things to take care of this afternoon, but I'd like it if we could talk … later."

"Sure. No, I understand. You need to be with your family today. Please give my love to your mom and dad … and your grandma too. I wish I could have seen them under better circumstances, but things don't always work out that way."

"No, they certainly don't."

A/N: Or maybe they do! Are y'all breathing a sigh of relief? High fives to everyone to guessed that it was Edward's Grandfather who passed away. I had a big grin on my face every time I saw a review that guessed it was his Grandfather. =) Smart Cookies you are ;)

There are two chapters left and they will post tomorrow! =)

Thanks for reading!