A/N: Hi everyone. First off, I have to apologize to everyone who reviewed but didn't get a reply. As the members of my FB group already know, I've been suffering from a bad cold for a week now and didn't have the time or energy to get back to all of you. I'm really sorry, and I'll try to return to regular replies this week.

On another note, I know the last chapter was highly emotional for all of you, and the reviews showed that. Normally, I don't censor or deny any reviews, no matter how much I may disagree with the reviewer. Instead of moderating guest reviews, I usually let them sit so they go up five days after being sent. However, last chapter, I did something I've only done once or twice before. I decided to deny a guest review that was insulting to homosexual people as well as women, using abusive language. I won't stand for homophobic, disgusting, or derogatory comments like that. I'm completely okay with people criticizing my writing, but a statement like that won't be shown online if I can help it.

Now, on to more pleasant things. Thank you very much to my usual team, LaPumuckl, NKubie, and Midnight Cougar. I couldn't do this without you.

I don't own Twilight …

******ITaV******

It Takes a Village – Chapter 10

It took superhuman strength to make it across the street. I barely managed to close my front door behind me before I collapsed against it, sliding down the wood as my composure vanished. I ended up with my elbows propped on my knees, my head held in my hands as toneless sobs escaped my dry throat.

What had I done? How had I fucked up so royally? My temporary lapse in judgment had ruined whatever relationship I had with Bella. There was no way we could go back to being friends. I would have to keep my distance from her — for real, from now on. I'd also have to stay away from Seth and Riley, who'd become good friends of mine. Not to mention their little girl I'd completely fallen in love with.

Would Bella tell them what happened? With the way they openly granted her "a freebie" on the night of our date, they shouldn't be too put out by the fact she had sex outside their relationship. Still, I was sure they wouldn't be happy with the way I walked out on her. But hell, I was so far out of my comfort zone, I had no idea what else to do.

My heart ached at the mere thought of never hearing her musical laugh again. The realization I'd never get to touch her any more caused my throat to constrict painfully. Yet, I couldn't fully regret what happened tonight. Sure, knowing what it felt like to kiss her, hold her, be inside her, made it a lot harder to imagine a future without that. It was the single most perfect experience in my life.

The famous proverb stated it was better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. As sad as it was, that saying applied to my situation. However, it hurt like hell to have lost Bella.

I had no idea how long I'd been sitting like that when Gizmo's wet nose nudged my arm. Reluctantly, I lowered my hands from my face. The look in my puppy's eyes left me impressed with his intuition, as it was full of sympathy and wordless comfort.

"I'm so sorry, buddy, but I fucked things up for you, too. We'll have to manage on our own from now on." When I'd left Bella crying in her bed, I hadn't realized cutting all ties would include terminating our unspoken doggy-care agreement. That wouldn't only hurt and inconvenience me, but it would be much harder on Gizmo and Maddie.

Wrapping my arms around my furry little friend, I took whatever comfort he could offer. From now on, it would be only him and me.

****ITaV****

The next morning I was groggy, sore, and in an exceptionally bad mood. I'd tossed and turned all night, getting two hours of sleep at best. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Bella in her bed, shoulders hunched as she cried into the sheet clutched to her chest.

At eight, I decided to give up on trying to get some decent rest. I took a long, hot shower, my knees almost buckling under me when I realized I was washing away whatever I had left of my night with Bella.

Once I dressed, I fed Gizmo, then ushered him into the car to get away from the house across the street before there were any visible signs of life. I was on my way toward Forks without really thinking about where to go. Half an hour later, I found myself parked in front of Carlisle and Esme's house.

I was still contemplating whether to knock or just take Gizmo for a walk in the woods surrounding their property when the door opened and a worried-looking Esme invited me in. She told me to sit down at the kitchen table, handed me a cup of black coffee, and waited for me to pour out my heart to her as I'd done a hundred times when I was a kid.

But, my dilemma wasn't a window I'd accidentally broken with a baseball or a movie my dad wouldn't allow me to watch. In an act of pure stupidity, I'd had sex with the woman I loved, who was married, and therewith, destroyed whatever chance at a friendship we'd had. That was nothing I was keen to discuss with my aunt.

After a long, awkward silence, she said, "You know, Edward, if there's anything you need to talk about, we're always here for you."

"Thanks, Esme. I know that. But this is nothing you or Carlisle could help me with. I'll have to come to terms with a mistake I made and the effect it will have on my future. Don't worry. I'll get over it." Hopefully, I added to myself.

"Still, even if you only need someone to listen, we're here." She smiled a sad but reassuring smile, engaged me in some small talk about a new project my mother was working on, then I made my escape to take Gizmo for a long walk in the woods.

****ITaV****

We'd wandered around aimlessly for about an hour when we reached the little creek Emmett and I used to camp by when we were kids. The place was so peaceful and quiet, inviting me to sit down on a bolder and rest for a while as Gizmo ran around freely.

My weary mind had played last night's images on a loop for me since I'd left my aunt and uncle's house. From the moment I wrapped Bella in my arms when she was afraid of the thunder and lightning, to the last glance of her as a sobbing mess under the sheets. Every look, every touch, and every caress replayed in my head, making me want to tear out my heart and throw it into the stream as we'd thrown rocks when we were children.

"I thought I'd find you here." The voice of my cousin and best friend pulled me out of my inner torture. "Mom called me and said she thought you needed a friend."

Emmett freed Nemo from his leash and the two brothers chased each other around the small clearing.

I took a deep breath, and when I released it, I told him tonelessly, "I fucked up, Em."

Taking a seat beside me, he gazed at the creek. "What happened, Ed? I've never seen you like this, not even when Becky Hanson told you she was going to California for law school."

Becky had been my girlfriend of two years during college, and unlike with Jane, I'd seen us married with children a few years down the line. At the time, I thought I was so in love with her that it felt as though my world was coming to an end when she broke up with me to go to Berkeley.

Looking back, the heartbreak then was nothing compared to the deep-seeded pain I was feeling now. I'd gotten over Becky rather quickly when I got together with Maggie, my med school girlfriend. I couldn't see myself meeting someone who could even remotely distract me from the brunette living across the street from me.

"You remember the woman I told you about?"

"The one you're head over heels in love with, who's married with a kid?" he inquired further.

I hadn't told him the whole extent of the clusterfuck I was in, but what he knew was complicated enough.

"Yeah, that's the one."

"What did you do?" Em sounded curious yet worried.

I closed my eyes, willing away the image of a crying Bella. "Her husband's out of town. Last night, she asked me over to help her with something. One thing led to another, and we ended up in bed."

"Fuck!" Em exclaimed. "That's definitely a mess you made there. How did you leave things?"

I sighed. "I told her I couldn't have an affair with her and that I would stay away from her from now on."

In my peripheral vision, I could see Emmett furrow his brows. "Aren't you friends with the husband, too? Won't he be suspicious?"

"They have kind of an open marriage, apparently, so that shouldn't be a problem. For the sake of my own sanity, I'll have to keep my distance from him too, though. And their daughter can't play with Gizmo anymore."

I picked up a stone and threw it into the stream with as much force as I could, as though that could help with my frustrations.

"Shit, Ed. You really like her, don't you?" Em's voice was sympathetic.

"I fucking love her," I replied. "But I can neither ask her to leave the father of her daughter nor can I be her something-on-the-side. There's no solution to this mess."

Emmett nodded wordlessly, and we silently sat side-by-side, watching the creek rush over the stones in its bed.

"Did you at least use protection?" my cousin asked after a long pause.

I chuckled humorlessly. "That's the one thing I remembered to do, not that it makes any difference."

"It does," Em insisted. "The last thing you need is a baby with two potential daddies."

Or three in my case.

We were silent once more until Emmett got up and whistled for Nemo to come back to him. "You know, the best way to get over a failed love is to get back in the saddle. Go on a date. Get your rocks off. Fuck that woman out of your brain and move on. I know it's not easy. Hell, it took me a year to look at another girl when Rosie and I broke up before leaving for college, and here I am, fourteen years later, married to my former high school sweetheart. Fate has funny ways of working things out sometimes."

With that, he put Nemo back on his leash and clapped me on the shoulder. "You know where to find me if you need a wingman, or even if you just need to talk. I'm here."

"Thanks, Em. I don't think I'll need a wingman any time soon, but I could go for a beer next week when you have time."

He assured me he'd call me with a date and left to go home to his family.

****ITaV****

Monday morning was the first time I saw Bella again. Sunday night, I managed to stay out until after dusk, so when I returned, no one from the Clearwater house was outside to run into.

I'd been so exhausted I slept like the dead; even though, my sleep was plagued with nightmares of my last words to Bella. Drenched in sweat, I got up upon the first ring of my alarm and readied myself for work. With my dog-sitting arrangement out the window, today would be the first day I left Gizmo at home while I was at the practice.

I let him out into the backyard as I ate my breakfast, prepared him food and water, and tried to explain to him that he was a big boy now and that I'd be back for my lunch break. He didn't seem to understand, and I felt even worse than I had before when he longingly looked across the street.

There was no use, though. As much as I wanted to stay and bury myself under the sheets of my bed for the rest of my life, I had to leave the house. After a quick goodbye to my puppy, I locked the door behind me, only to stop dead in my tracks when I turned and my gaze involuntarily swept across the street. There, in faded jeans and a long, black cardigan, with her hair in a messy ponytail, was Bella. Her eyes were wide with shock; the dark circles under them didn't diminish the fact that she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on.

For a quick second, the corners of her mouth turned up into a little smile and a hand lifted in greeting, but then her face fell, and a pained expression washed over her visage. Her hand dropped, and she turned away from me to usher a bewildered Maddie into her car.

I stood rooted to my spot on the porch until they'd pulled out of their driveway and their taillights had disappeared down the street. My chest was tight and my eyes stung as I realized my resolve would be so much harder than I'd ever thought.

****ITaV****

The next day, I managed to avoid leaving the house at the same time as Bella, but when I returned home that night, she and Seth were on their front porch, having a heated discussion. As soon as he spotted me across the street, he scowled at me, and if he could have shot daggers with his eyes, I would have been a dead man. Apparently, he knew what happened while he was away for the weekend. I wasn't sure what to make of that, but hoped he wouldn't hold it against Bella.

He started toward the stairs in my direction when she stepped in front of him, placing her hand in the middle of his chest to halt him in his tracks. He narrowed his eyes at me, then his expression softened and he wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her close to him.

It hurt like hell to see them like that, yet, at the same time, I was relieved he was still so affectionate with her. After all, I'd never wanted to cause them any trouble.

Pulling my eyes away from them, I made my way into the house, and after letting Gizmo out into the backyard, I grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels from a cabinet, broke the seal, and drank straight from the bottle for the rest of the night.

****ITaV****

Time passed, and I found a routine of to get out of the house when I was sure I wouldn't run into any member of Bella's family. Once or twice, I ended up with an awkward stare-off with Seth or Riley, and a few times, I caught glimpses of Bella as she took Maddie to school or returned home. She looked tired, and I longed to go to her so much that it hurt. And I wasn't alone. Gizmo whimpered and whined every time he spotted either Bella or Maddie from his favorite spot on the windowsill next to the front door.

People say it gets easier with time, but it didn't. Three weeks after that fateful night, I was at the end of my rope and decided to heed Emmett's advice.

That Thursday, I had a visit from a pharmaceutical sales rep by the name of Kate Livingston. She was a tall blonde, in her late twenties, with a nice smile and legs that seemed to go on forever. She had come to my office to pitch her company's newest baby formula to me, and we took an instant liking to each other.

During our one-hour talk about her product and my patients' needs, she mentioned several times that she'd be in town until Saturday and wouldn't mind some company. Since I'd enjoyed talking to her a lot, I decided to just go with the flow and invite her to dinner the next night.

I took her to an Italian restaurant Emmett had recommended.

"So, Edward, how's an attractive young doctor like you still single?" She started the conversation after the waiter had poured us both some red wine. "I'm sure the single, as well as the married, moms of your patients wouldn't mind going out with you." Her smile was friendly, and it was clear she made the comment in good humor.

"Well, as you know, I've only been here for about three months, so there hasn't been much free time to get anything started. Apart from that, I wouldn't want a relationship with a mother of a patient to get in the way of my work." That was a lie and I knew it. If Bella had been single, nothing could have held me back from pursuing a relationship with her, and I'd taken her on a date and even slept with her, despite the fact she was married. However, that was hardly a topic I wanted to discuss with the attractive woman across the table from me.

"Their loss is my gain." Kate winked at me, taking a sip from her wine.

Following her lead, I tasted the Merlot as well, then turned the tables on her. "What about you, then? I heard pharmaceutical reps are supposed to be a hot commodity. How come you're sitting here with me this evening? Not that I'm complaining." I chuckled.

"I guess the right guy hasn't come along, yet. It's not for lack of opportunity. You're right there, but I usually don't agree to dates with hot doctors."

"What makes me so special, then?" I wanted to know.

She leaned her head to the side, as if to size me up. "You don't come on too strongly. You treat me like a friend and equal rather than some elusive prey. That's nice for a change."

Throughout dinner, conversation between us never ceased or got awkward. We flirted a bit, complimented each other a lot, but in the end, there was no chemistry between us. If I hadn't known Bella, Kate would have been the type of woman I'd have gone for, but meeting and falling in love with the beautiful brunette had turned my life upside down.

I suspected Kate felt it too, when she turned down my invitation to go for drinks somewhere after dinner. Instead, she thanked me for the nice evening and said she had to get up early the next morning to drive back to Seattle.

We left the restaurant laughing and joking, and stopped in front of the entrance to wait for the valet to retrieve my car. I stood with my back to the street, concentrating on a funny story Kate was telling about a doctor in Tacoma who'd accidentally put her formula she was demonstrating in his coffee instead of cream and had spat the brew across the table. Doubling over with giggles, she steadied herself with a hand on my chest as I heard a gasp, then the sound of something crashing to the ground behind me.

I whirled around, holding Kate to me so she wouldn't lose her footing, and came face-to-face with a wide-eyed, slack-jawed Bella. Her arms were still in position to hold the paper bags she'd obviously dropped when she spotted my date and me.

She muttered a quiet, "Sorry," then crouched down to pick up her groceries. Without thinking, I kneeled down beside her, helping her to gather the oranges that had fallen out of her bag.

"I'm sorry," I replied, trying to look anywhere but at her. However, I couldn't help noticing her sad expression and the way she avoided touching me.

After less than a minute, we both stood, and I remembered my manners.

"Um, Kate, this is Bella my … neighbor. Bella, Kate Livingston." I didn't know how to introduce her, but Kate was quick to rectify that.

"Hi, Bella," she greeted, leaning over to shake Bella's hand. "I'm in town on business, and Edward was kind enough to take me out on a date so I wouldn't feel alone."

Bella's smile was forced, and I was relieved when my car pulled up to the curb.

"It was nice meeting you," Kate bid Bella farewell.

Bella nodded and mumbled something along the same lines, then turned on her heel and hurried down the sidewalk.

"Now that was awkward." Kate chuckled as I pulled away from the restaurant. "I guess you had time to meet one person, after all." She smiled. "But don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

I didn't know how to reply to that, so I stared straight out the windshield.

The drive to Kate's hotel was a short one, and as I parked the car in front, she turned in her seat to face me.

"Thank you for the very enjoyable evening, Dr. Cullen. I had a lot of fun with you."

I smiled at her sincerely. I'd enjoyed her company very much, just not the way I'd hoped to, so I simply answered, "Me too."

Kate's blue eyes twinkled when she went on. "I can see you're not in the right mind for a relationship right now, at least not with me. And I'm not really there, either. But I'd like to see you again when I get back into town — as friends. I can't remember when I last laughed this much."

Agreeing to keep in contact, we hugged goodbye, and I made my way home to my dog.

****ITaV****

In the warm glow of candlelight, I was engulfed in Bella's scent, her arms wrapped around my neck, her thighs cradled to my hips. Our bodies slick with perspiration, and her soft moans in my ear as I thrust into her with a sense of desperation.

I never wanted the moment to end. She was mine. All the hurt and anguish were gone, and it was just us. Her husband didn't matter. Her boyfriend didn't matter. My sense of obligation to honor her marriage had vanished. Only she and I remained, united in the most intimate, primal way.

Her heat surrounded me like a warm blanket, and with every push of my hips, I brought her closer to her release, as I got closer to mine. Our breaths were ragged, our tongues dancing frantically, when there was a sudden: beep … beep … beep ….

As I slowly came to, I found myself humping my mattress with a pillow clutched in my arms. Disappointment and sadness washed over me as I realized it had been nothing but a dream. Bella was in the house across the street, probably spending the Saturday morning in bed with her husband, her boyfriend, or even both at the same time.

She had a life and a family, while I had nothing except work and my dog. Something had to change, and soon.

****ITaV****

For the rest of the weekend, I contemplated what I could do about the mess I found myself in. The first decision I made was to get out more. My date with Kate had shown me that while I might not be ready to start anything serious with anyone, I still enjoyed my time with her. So, I would try to be more open about dating, if only casually.

Secondly, as much as I loved my house when I bought it, I realized I'd be a prisoner in my own home as long as I lived across the street from Bella. Therefore, I resigned myself to put my house on the market and look for somewhere else to live. I wouldn't start house hunting the next day, but I would definitely contact a realtor soon.

The next week was busy, and I didn't get to do much of anything, but somehow I did manage to book a first appointment with a new real estate agent for Friday after work. I was sad to get rid of my beautiful house; yet, I was hopeful things would start to look up once I moved to another part of town. On top of that, I ran into one of the Clearwater-Biers clan almost every day, strengthening my resolve to move away — and with any luck, move on.

With very mixed feelings, I started work on Friday morning. It seemed as though the whole town had fallen sick lately, and I didn't even have the time to look at the day's appointments with patient after patient coming in with various illnesses.

It was late morning when I breezed into 'Exam Room 2' to see what felt like the hundredth patient that day, only to stop short when I found Bella standing next to a terribly pale Maddie sitting on the bed.

When she heard me enter, she squared her shoulders and turned to me. "Hey, Edward. Um, I'm sorry to bother you, but Maddie's running a fever, and her throat really hurts. I wanted her to see Dr. Gerandy, but she insisted on seeing you."

I knew the day would come when we had to be civil and talk to each other — for Maddie's sake. So, I took a deep breath and assured her it was okay.

"It's fine, Bella." Then, drawing my attention to the sick child, I forced a big smile. "Of course Maddie can come see me. That's what I'm here for, right?"

Her cloudy eyes looked up at me. "My throat hurts," she whispered, and I could hear the effort it cost her to talk to me.

"Okay then, let's take a look." I didn't have to coax her much to open her mouth, and as soon as she did, I could see her tonsils were as big as ping-pong balls, fiery red, and laced with white specks. "Well, little lady, it looks as though you contracted a bad case of tonsillitis. I'll prescribe you an antibiotic, some lozenges to numb the pain, and something to get your temperature down, and in a couple days, you'll be as good as new."

Bella's phone started to ring, and she hit the ignore button, but it started to ring again a few seconds later. I looked over and noticed it was Seth calling, probably wanting to know what was wrong with his daughter.

"Go ahead and take it. I'll stay with Maddie until you're back," I told her, taking a seat next to the little girl on the examination bed.

"I'll just be a minute," Bella assured, as she made her way out of the room. I couldn't help following her form with my eyes.

As the door closed behind her, Maddie's sweet but hoarse voice pulled my attention back to her.

"Dr. Edward, can you please look at my mommy, too?"

Her big, chocolate eyes reminded me so much of her mother's as they looked at me pleadingly. Shocked by the sincerity of her tone I turned serious.

"What's wrong with your mommy, honey?"

She swallowed painfully, then made a little fist and rubbed it over the middle of her chest. "She's hurting here."

I had no idea what she was getting at, but her obvious worry had me on edge. "How do you know that, Maddie?"

She bit her bottom lip — another trait she'd inherited from her mom — then cast down her eyes sadly. "Since the blackout, Mommy cries every night, and when I asked her, she told me."

A hot knot formed in my chest at the knowledge not only was Bella hurting, but Maddie as well, having to watch her mother in pain. Even though I felt kicked in the stomach by her words and the knowledge I had likely caused all of it, I knew I needed to put the little girl at ease.

"Honey, sometimes grown-ups get sad too, and they cry. I'm sure your daddy's sad as well, sometimes."

Her huge, soulful eyes met mine once more, and her face turned solemn. "But Daddy has Riley to hold him and make him feel better. My mommy's all alone."

That didn't make any sense, but the words knocked the wind out of me all the same.

Seth had Riley? And Bella had no one? But didn't she have both of them? A hundred and one questions swirled around in my head, but it would be unethical, as well as indecent, to press any more information out of my little patient I had no business knowing.

At the same time, I heard Bella's footsteps closer to the door, so to reassure Maddie, I patted her hand with mine, saying, "I'm sure everything will turn out fine, sweetheart."

With a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Bella came back in and went right to Maddie. I picked up the prescription I'd written out, instructing her on how to administer the medicine, before the both of them left my office, Maddie waving a sad goodbye.

****ITaV****

The rest of the day, my mind was in a daze, as Maddie's words replayed in my head. Had I missed something? Could I have gotten the whole situation wrong? Maybe things were not as they seemed.

I needed answers, and I needed them today.

I knew exactly where to get them.

********ItaV********

A/N: And there you have it. Maddie pointed Edward in the right direction. But who's he going to ask? And where will it lead?

Here's a little teaser for chapter 11:

… "You thought what?" The last word came out as a shriek. "Shit! Edward, I … I can't believe you thought I … with both of them? At the same time? Oh my God! I'm not prudish, but I'm not that kinky." …

Seems as though Bella's a bit upset. Will he be able to turn the situation around? Tell me what you think here or on Facebook in my group Payton79's Fanfiction.

See you next week.

xo Payton