A/N: Hey you. Yeah, you. You make me happy. Hugs!

OH. Vinyl1987 made me the loveliest banner for this story. Check it out in my profile. Benji is so adorbs.

"Are you okay, Bells?" Charlie peered at her in the mirror as he drove, and Bella forced a smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're awfully quiet."

Bella paused, wondering if she wanted to broach the topic. "Esme told me about their son today," she finally said.

"Oh. She told you about Edward?"

Bella couldn't read Charlie's tone, which only served to make her curious. She'd expected to hear condemnation in his voice.

Sue, on the other hand, had no problem speaking her mind. "It's horrible. A person who abandons his family has no honor."

Surprisingly, it was Charlie who spoke, his tone even but firm. "That isn't always clear."

"What do you mean?" his wife asked.

"I can't speak for Edward and the Cullens. I think it's horrible seeing them so alone, but we also don't know what happened." He took a deep breath, his eyes again landing on Bella's in the mirror. "It's not always clear - the right thing to do. I chose my sick parents over my wife and baby daughter once." He glanced at Sue, taking her hand over the shifter. "I'm happy now, but I still don't know if I made the right choice then."

"Did you know Edward?" Bella asked curiously.

Charlie gave a little shrug. "Had dinner with the Cullens a number of times. Edward always struck me as a good kid. He was polite, he definitely never gave me any trouble." He smirked. "He got a little embarrassed with the way Carlisle and Esme would brag about his accomplishments. He was a smart kid - best grades, all that. He'd just been accepted into a transfer program at Yale right before he disappeared."

Bella balked. "Really?"

"Yeah. I've never asked them about it, but who knows. Sometimes great success is too much for a person to handle, especially so young. Maybe that had something to do with it."

Or maybe Carlisle and Esme had put pressure on Edward to move across the country from his baby, Bella thought. That would have pissed him off.

Bella lapsed into silence again, trying to figure out what she was supposed to think about this, and more importantly, what she was supposed to do. There was that old saying. There are always three sides to every story - each of the parties' sides and the truth.

There was no part of Bella that would have believed Edward was capable of abandoning his parents. He was the epitome of a loving family man. She'd seen the pain in his expression when they briefly talked about it after Amun's accusation.

Pain and maybe a hint of regret now that Bella thought about it.

It had been all she could do not to tell Esme and Carlisle she knew where their long lost son was. On a totally separate level, it made her so sad that a couple as lovely as the Cullens had no one to look after them in their old age. The kindness of the other residents of Forks couldn't be a match for their own flesh and blood. Bella couldn't cure Carlisle of his broken body. She couldn't refund the toll caring for her husband on her own had taken on Esme. That she had the power to mend their broken hearts made Bella both eager and guilty.

It seemed like a no-brainer. As much as they needed Edward, Edward needed them. He'd struggled alone for so long. Everything Bella knew about the Cullens made her think they would support him, they would help him in whatever way they could. Benjamin would gain two loving grandparents, and Carlisle and Esme would be able to get to know their amazing grandson.

But why had Edward stayed away so long? There had to be a reason. Though Esme hadn't said it, Bella knew the reason they'd stayed in their huge family home when it was far too big for them to handle was because they wanted to make sure Edward knew where to go when he decided to come home. It had been seven and a half years.

No, Bella resolved. She had to talk to Edward first.

She wrung her hands, wondering if he would be angry.

~0~

Rather than stay until the last possible minute, Bella made an excuse about having homework to catch up on and left for Seattle early Sunday morning. It was a long drive, and she was very nervous about what she wanted to do.

When she'd finally reached the Bainbridge Ferry and boarded, she stayed in her car, drumming the steering wheel. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Then she took out her phone and dialed Edward's number.

"Hey," he answered after a few rings. He sounded happy to hear from her.

"Hey," she said back. "Um, how was your Thanksgiving?"

"It was great. Alice went all out," he said with a chuckle. "She made enough for a small army, so I'm surprised I'm not still in a food coma."

Bella hummed, glad again that he'd spent the holidays with friends. "Listen, I'm almost home. I wondered if you were busy today. There's something I need to talk about."

He was quiet for a handful of seconds. "Is everything okay, Bella? That sounds awfully serious."

"Everything is fine. It's just... important." Even then she was second guessing herself, wondering if this was a good idea.

"Okay." The word was slow, heavy with trepidation. Edward cleared his throat. "You're kind of freaking me out," he admitted.

Bella blew out a huff of breath. "I know. I'm sorry. It's really nothing horrible."

"Just important," he repeated. "Um, yeah. I'm at work. I was picking up a few extra hours since the guys are all with their families. It's pretty dead, though, so if you want to come by the garage..."

"Okay," Bella agreed readily. "I'll be there soon."

~0~

When she got to the garage, Bella was momentarily distracted from her nervousness.

Edward was bent over the engine of a car, some kind of tool or another in his hand. Even from her vantage point his face was flushed and dirty. It shouldn't have been hot. There was no logical reason a dirty, sweaty man in a coverall should look that attractive. She let her eyes rake over his form appreciatively.

He turned his head slightly, the concentration draining from his expression as he smiled at her. He straightened up, grabbing at a rag and wiping the excess grease from his hands. "Hey," he greeted, stopping just short of her.

He smelled like oil. And man. And that shouldn't be hot either.

Bella shook her head, reminding herself of what she came here to do. "Hey."

"Come on. Let's go into the office." He tilted his head toward a little room that said Employees Only. Bella followed him, twisting her hands anxiously and sitting on the bedraggled couch. Edward sat across from her in the office chair at the desk.

Edward watched her fidget for almost a full minute before he finally spoke. "Bella, you're killing me here."

Bella pressed her lips together. "Can I ask you about your parents?"

That obviously took him by surprise. He crossed his arms. "You needed to talk to me immediately about my parents?"

She knew it sounded ridiculous. Bella bit the inside of her cheek, trying to figure out a better way to go about this. "You never asked me where my father lived," she finally blurted.

Edward blinked, obviously confused. "Um. I..." he stumbled. "I guess I didn't. I just assumed he lived here in Seattle since you didn't have to fly anywhere."

"He doesn't." Bella's heart was beating ridiculously fast. She lifted her eyes to his. "He lives in Forks."

Edward inhaled sharply, looking down at the floor. He stood, backing up a few steps until his back was against the wall. "You're Chief Swan's girl," he said numbly.

"Yeah."

"Your father knew my parents." His voice was far away, and he still wasn't looking at her.

Bella bit the inside of her cheek. "I know your parents."

"Of course you would. That town is so fucking tiny." There was no inflection to his tone.

"I saw them this weekend, in fact."

Edward didn't say anything.

Standing, Bella walked to him, needing to touch him because this wasn't going to be easy. She reached for his hand, but he yanked away from her.

"How long have you known they were my parents? The whole time?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What? Of course not." She took a deep breath, reminding herself that he was probably defensive and definitely shocked. "I saw your picture on the wall. I never knew. Of course I never knew."

Again, he was quiet.

Wrapping her arms around her shoulders, Bella pressed forward. "Why did you leave them for so long?"

She asked as gently as she could, but when his eyes flashed up, she could see he felt attacked. "What did they tell you?" he bit out.

But these were not angry words. They were oddly desperate, reminding her more of a child who was asking, 'Are you very mad,' in a pitifully uncertain voice.

Bella stepped forward again, taking his hand. He stiffened, but he didn't pull away this time. "Your mother said she misses you, and she's sorry for the things she and your father said."

Edward exhaled in a gust. His fingers tightened around hers.

"There's something I think you need to know."

He looked at her hesitantly.

"I don't know what's going on between you and your parents, or why you've stayed away. I think, though, whatever it is... Edward, I think you should see them again before..."

His eyes searched hers. She could see distinctly when it clicked, and a look of horror came over his face. "What happened?" He clutched her hands. "Are they sick?"

"No," she said quickly. "No, it's not that. It's just..." She huffed. This was so hard. "Edward, your dad... There was a very bad accident. He was hit by a car."

Edward made a noise in the back of his throat, and his legs buckled, sending him to his knees. "When?" he asked, his voice raw.

"It was years ago. It happened right before I moved to Forks when I was seventeen."

He breathed in and out through his nose, staring sightlessly forward. "How bad?"

"He was in the hospital a long time. He only started walking again very recently."

"Oh, God." Edward's words were barely a whisper. He loosed his hand from hers and putting it over his eyes.

For a few tense, heavy seconds, there was no sound in the room except his heavy breathing. Bella waited, tense, not knowing what to do for him or what he needed.

Very suddenly, Edward jumped to his feet. He was already to the door before Bella was after him. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to Forks. I'm going home."

"Edward." She grabbed his arm. "Calm down. You have to think about this."

"What is there to think about?!" he turned to roar at her. The look in his eyes was maniacal - frightening.

Bella swallowed hard. "Don't you have Benjamin tomorrow?"

"Benji," Edward said on a breath. He ran his hands through his hair restlessly, looking like he was going to go out of his skin.

"And are you just going to take off work tomorrow?" she prompted. She knew Mr. Hale was a hardass. He wouldn't like his newest employee taking off all of a sudden.

Edward closed his eyes. "Fuck," he muttered under his breath.

"Come here. Just sit down. Calm down." She took his hand again, tugging until he followed her back into the office. She pushed him gently down on the couch and sat beside him. Because it looked like he desperately needed it, Bella put her arms around him, running her fingers through the hair on the back his neck soothingly. "It's okay."

He hesitated only a moment before he wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder. "What have I done?" he whispered, mostly to himself.

Bella didn't answer because she honestly didn't know. She just rocked him.

"I don't know what to do," he said after a quiet minute. "How can I even look at them? How could they still want me? I left them alone. I didn't take care of them. That's what good sons are supposed to do - take care of their parents."

"They're your parents, Edward. How would you feel if it was Benjamin? You would always want him, always love him."

He shuddered in her arms and didn't answer. "What do I do?"

He sounded so lost, it broke her heart. She pulled back and took his face between her hands. His eyes were still closed. He looked so miserable. "When Kebi picks up Benjamin this Saturday, you and I are going to go to Forks. Together, okay? We'll head straight there."

Slowly, he opened his eyes. He didn't speak, but he nodded just slightly.

"I'm going to be with you. I promise." She sensed he needed the support. This was important, though she didn't know why.

He sighed, a shuddering sound, and leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. "Okay," he finally murmured.

She stroked her thumbs over his cheeks, not caring how dirty he was. The instinct to comfort him was a need, pure and simple. He closed his eyes again, bringing his hand up to wrap around her wrist, though he didn't pull her away.

They stayed like this for another minute, maybe more, and when his eyes opened again, something had changed. The atmosphere seemed to spark with electricity, and suddenly Bella was very aware that his lips were so close to hers, it would take nothing, a tilt of her head, to kiss him.

And she wanted to. The urge was almost too much to suppress.

His eyes were on her, intense, dark and alive as rolling storm clouds. He moved his hand from her wrist to her face, cupping her cheek as she was cupping his.

Bella felt her heart speed. Her very blood screamed with want. It looked like he was going to kiss her, and how much she wanted him to.

"You should tell me to stop." His voice almost startled her. It was just a rumble, and he was so close her skin vibrated with it. She shivered.

Darting her tongue out to lick her lips, she moved one of her hands to the back of his neck, stroking the short hairs there. "Do you want to stop?" She was amazed her voice was steady.

He shook his head back and forth, back and forth. His lips brushed hers - a taste of sweetness that left her craving more. "But I should." He pressed his lips against her more firmly once. Twice. "You want this." It wasn't a question.

"Yes," she mumbled, taking the initiative and kissing him softly. Just a peck.

He pulled back ever so slightly, the look in his eyes tender as he stroked a thumb over her lips, studying her face as though he were looking on something precious. "Baby, what's a kid like you want with a grease monkey like me, hmm?"

Instead of waiting for her to answer, he kissed her again. This time, he lingered. His lips were gentle as they moved with hers, achingly sweet. He broke the kiss with a small gasp and a sigh, closing his eyes. "Amun is right. I have no business-"

"Shhh," she hushed him, pulling his mouth back to hers. "Amun is an asshole." Twining her fingers in his shirt, she pulled him down with her as she laid back on the couch. He came willingly. "Kiss me."

He did.

A/N: And then... they had sex over the hood of the car.

No?

No.

Thanks to jessypt and barburella. I luff them muchly.

And thanks to all you. Mwah.