A/N: So sorry to keep you hanging. I've been quite busy this week. I had some temping work and had to make a giant Etch A Sketch birthday banner for someone I baby-sit for. Also I barely had time to write as I was having lengthy MSN conversations with my friends.

Anyways I would like to thank the following for reviewing: barbiedoll123, dolphindreaming, Dawb, kywoman38, the captains wife, twilightkc, jayd-n33

Also thanks for the 6 new favourite story adds, 2 new favourite author adds, 4 new story alerts and 2 new author alerts.

Chapter 11

A week after Bella and Edward's showdown found Bella sitting at Alice's kitchen table. She held her head in her hands while she waited for Alice to return from upstairs and tell her if her daughter wanted to see her. Truth be told she hadn't seen Carlie since the announcement that she wanted to live with Alice. Not that it wasn't for want of trying, Carlie just refused to see her mother. Her excuse was always the same - let Edward have his access back and she would freely sit down with Bella and talk to her. That wasn't an option in Bella's mind. Bella's head snapped up at the sound of footsteps descending the stairs and her heart dropped when she realized Alice was alone. Alice joined her at the kitchen table.

"I'm sorry Bells. She said exactly the same as yesterday. She's as stubborn as you."

Bella's tears that had been threatening to fall began falling at that point. Alice watched as her best friend break down in front of her and just wished that Carlie would see her but alas she couldn't make her niece do anything she didn't want to do.

"Maybe if you say he can have supervised access then she'll speak to you. You must have a good reason for saying that he couldn't see her," Alice continued.

Bella shook her head profusely then started to speak.

"That's the thing Al. I said it out of spite and she knows that. I've taken the one thing she wanted from her and she's not going to forgive me for that. I've lost her and I've lost him. I wouldn't be surprised if she went to live with him now. He'd give her a better life than I ever could."

"Isabella Swan don't you ever let me hear you say anything like that again. That child has not wanted anything since the day she was born. You've given her everything. You were a mother and a father to her until Edward found out about her. She'll forgive you. I know she will, just give her time."

"Then why won't she talk to me?" Bella asked, her crying had now reduced to small sobs.

"Because she's hurt Bella! She needs time to heal!"

"I know. I just can't stand not seeing her. Not being able to walk into her bedroom and see her laying on her bed reading or sitting at her desk doing homework. I miss seeing her onto the school bus everyday and hearing her run into the house and dumping her backpack after school. I'm hurting too, can't she see that?"

"I know Bella, I know."

"Well sitting here isn't going to help anything. It's not like she's going to run downstairs and rush into my arms. I have to go. Please Alice, just tell her that I love her."

Alice hugged her friend and murmured, "Of course I will. I've told her everyday. She'll come around soon."

Bella nodded and stood up. As she walked to the front door she wiped the tears away and turned around. She glanced up at the stairs and her breath hitched when she saw the small form of her daughter sitting on the top step. She looked so small and so scared. It wasn't anything Bella had seen before.

"Carlie," Bella breathed.

Carlie looked at Bella, wiped her own tears away and got up from the step. She ran down the hallway and into the guest room. Carlie flung herself onto the bed and started to sob. She thought that by moving out she would make her mother see sense but all she seemed to be doing was breaking her heart. She heard the front door close and Alice come up the stairs. Alice knocked on the door of the small guest room and opened it.

"Can we talk?"

Carlie nodded and Alice sat down on the edge of the bed. Carlie sat up and looked at her Aunt.

"I'm hurting her."

Alice nodded and rested her hand on Carlie's shoulder.

"She's hurting Carlie. You need to talk to her. I'm sure she'll let you see your dad again if you spoke to her. I know that you're hurting as well but unless you two actually talk then nothing is going to be sorted out and as much as me, Uncle Jasper and the girls love having you here it's not where you belong. You belong at your house with your mom."

"I just want them to be happy. If they just saw that they still love each other then they could be happy. They don't have to fight. Why can't they just live with me and be a proper family?" Carlie sobbed.

"I don't know Carlie. Your mom and dad are very complex. They've always had fights. High school was a nightmare with those two around. One moment they would be the most loved up people I knew and then the next either your dad would say something wrong or do something wrong and your mom would be mad at him or your mom would think she wasn't good enough for your dad and he would be mad at her. This is completely normal for them and maybe they will see that they belong together but you have to know that that is a maybe. They may never see the things that everyone else can see."

Carlie nodded then said, "I just want to see my dad. I miss him."

"He misses you too sweet pea."

Downstairs they heard the doorbell ringing and Alice got up off the bed.

"Stay up here okay. I know you want to see him but just let me talk to him first," Alice told her.

"How do you know it's my dad?" Carlie asked.

"Trust me I know. Stay here okay?"

Carlie nodded again and lay back down on the blue and green comforter. She heard Alice open the door and greet whoever it was. She so desperately wanted to go downstairs but she knew that she had to listen to Alice, as it was she was going against her mothers' wishes by letting Edward see his daughter.

Alice followed Edward into the kitchen and joined him at the table. She noticed that he had a small rectangular box covered in pink paper with a small pink bow on top. He set the box on the table and looked at Alice.

"Look I know she does want me seeing Carlie but I just wanted to give her this. It's like all the missed birthdays and Christmases rolled into one gift," Edward told Alice.

Alice held her hand up to stop him waffling on and looked Edward square in the eyes.

"First of all how on earth did you know that Carlie is staying here? Second of all if you think we're not going to talk about why Carlie came here and Bella then you're wrong Edward Cullen so spill."

Edward sighed and started to talk.

"I know she's here because it was mine and Bella's argument that she overheard. We were arguing about Carlie and access because she slept with Jacob Black! Carlie walked in on them kissing after school and came to me. My guess is that as soon as Carlie was out of that front door they jumped into bed together. Carlie keeps saying that Bella is still in love with me but how on earth am I supposed to believe that when she jumps into bed with that mutt?"

"I didn't know any of that. Carlie just turned up on my doorstep and said that you weren't allowed to see her anymore. She told me that Bella was back with Jacob but she didn't tell me that you and Bella had an argument. Seriously Edward if you and Bella want to be friends and be able to share your daughter then you need to stop these arguments. I personally think you and Bella need to sit down without Carlie around so you can scream, shout and do whatever to get this hatred for what's happened out of both of your systems."

"I'm pretty sure the only hatred Bella holds is the pure hatred she has for me."

"Bella doesn't hate you. You need to find out what is going on in that pretty little head of hers to be friends! You need to be friends with each other for your daughters sake."

Edward sighed again and turned his attention onto a knot on the wooden table. He fingered the knot while he spoke.

"I don't want to be just friends. I love her. I've loved her ever since I set my eyes on her across the cafeteria when she moved to Forks. She is my everything!"

"Then you need to fix this Edward! Go to her house and talk to her. Don't shout, don't scream, just talk!" Alice scolded.

"Me and Bella can't talk. All we ever do is argue!" Edward scoffed.

"If at first you don't succeed, try and try again! Keep trying. She'll talk to you eventually."

Edward nodded. He pushed the box towards Alice and said, "Can you give that to Carlie. There's a card inside that she needs to read."

Alice pushed the box back and said, "I can do better than that but I am warning you now Cullen, tell Bella you've seen Carlie and I swear I will kill you."

Edward nodded. He knew better than to cross Alice, he had found that out during grade school when he had cut the hair off all her Barbie dolls. In return Alice hid the sheet music that he needed for his piano exam thus causing him to fail and having to retake the entire grade.

Alice soon returned with Carlie following her who when she saw Edward sat at the table waiting rushed forwards and gave him a hug.

"Dad, I've missed you," she breathed.

"As have I Carlie," Edward replied.

Carlie pulled away and sat next to her father. She was smiling for the first time in a week and it was because Alice had gone against Bella's wishes. Edward pushed the box towards Carlie and smiled.

"What is it?" Carlie asked.

"Open it. Think of it as ten birthday presents and ten Christmas presents in one."

Carlie opened the box and saw the card. She picked it up and saw that on the back of one of his business cards Edward had written 'I'll always be here for you.' She then peeled back the tissue paper to reveal a small silver cell phone. She picked it up and stared at the phone.

"I figured that if your mom wouldn't let me see you then there was no harm in talking to you. I've already programmed my cell phone number into it and you can give me a call anytime you want," Edward told her.

"Thank you dad. Have you told mom?" Carlie asked.

"No. I'm going to see her in a moment. I want to get this sorted out for your sake. You shouldn't have to listen to us argue whenever we see each other. There is something you should know though, me and your mom are probably never going to get back together and be the family we should be. If I could turn back the clocks then I would never have left you and your mom."

Carlie nodded then gave Edward a cuddle.

"Thanks dad," she breathed.

Edward gave Carlie a kiss on her forehead and told her that he would call her after speaking to Bella. Carlie nodded and watched as her father exited Alice's house.

Edward was sat in his Volvo looking up at the house in front of him. He was trying to work up the courage to go and see if the object of his desire was in the house. He decided that now was better than never so got out of the car and slowly trudged to the front door. He knocked on it and soon found Bella glaring at him.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

"I suppose so. Come in," Bella replied.

Edward followed Bella into the house. She led him into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Bella gestured for Edward to join her which he obliged to.

"Speak," Bella told him.

"I'm sorry. I need to tell you something that will probably make you hate me and my sister even more," Edward started.

Bella gestured for him to carry on and she carried on with the paperwork that she had to do.

"I've just been to see Carlie."

"I told you that you were not to see her."

"I didn't go there with the intentions of seeing her. I was going to give Alice a present for her but she said that I should give it to Carlie myself."

"What was it?"

"A cell phone. I figured that if I couldn't see her then I could at least speak to her," Edward explained.

"Fair enough. Is that all?"

"No. I told Carlie I would try to sort this out. Bella can't we talk like adults here. She needs to see me. You're taking me away from her."

"I suppose so. Edward we can't even be in the same room as each other without arguing so how are we going to do this? How are we going to drop her off and pick her up if we can't at least be civil?"

"We're being civil now aren't we? No shouting yet," Edward told her.

Bella nodded and put her pen down on the table. She found herself looking into those green eyes that she had fallen in love with all those years ago. Her eyes wandered down Edward's handsome face and fixated on his lips. She wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips just once more. She shook her head and heard the chimes of Edward's laugh.

"Why are you shaking your head?" he asked.

"I don't know," Bella lied.

"Silly Bella. You're still the same aren't you?"

Bella nodded then got up from the table. She needed to busy herself with something so that she wouldn't think about kissing her ex boyfriend again.

"Coffee? Juice?" she asked.

"Coffee please," Edward replied.

"One sugar and lots of milk right?" Bella asked.

"You still remember?"

"Of course I do. I remember a lot about our time together."

"Me too."

The playful banter went backwards and forwards as Bella made the coffee. Bella found herself smiling at the thought of her and Edward being in the same room as each other and not wanting to kill each other. Once the coffee had been made she gave Edward his cup then leant against the kitchen worktop with her own cup in her hands.

"So, do you ever think where we went wrong before?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well we've just proved to ourselves that we can have a civil conversation and laugh together without arguing. Could we have been friends right from the word go and not put our daughter through all that heartache?"

"Maybe. I just think we were angry at each other though. I was angry at you for keeping our daughter from me and you were angry at me for leaving and not coming back. We're past all that though right?"

"Of course."

Edward stood up and made his way to Bella. He held out his hand and smiled at her.

"Friends?" he asked.

Bella shook his hand and smiled back.

"Friends," she confirmed.

They stood staring at each other for quite some time. Edward let his eyes look at Bella's mouth and he smiled at her.

"Stay very still okay?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I want to try something. Just stay still."

Edward leant his head down and kept his focus on Bella's lips. As his head grew closer Bella realized what he was doing and let her eyes close slowly. She was anticipating the moment that she felt his lips on hers. Edward's lips reached hers and gently caressed them. He leant back and looked at Bella.

She was smiling so he bent his head again and recaptured her lips. At first it started out slowly, their lips were gently caressing each others then Bella traced Edward's bottom lip with her tongue. He granted her access and they soon were caressing each other's mouth. When they felt the need for air Edward pulled away. Bella looked up at him and grinned.

"I missed that," she said quietly.

"Me too. I've been wanting to do that since the memorial," Edward replied.

Bella went up onto her tiptoes and kissed Edward again. This time though the kiss was full of urgency. As though their bodies were wanting to catch up on all those years that they missed out.

Bella pulled away and said, "Bedroom. Now."

She pulled Edward up the stairs giggling as she went. Later on that day, Bella woke up in her bed and realized that she wasn't alone. She looked over and saw Edward in the bed. She picked up the covers and looked at what she was wearing. She grimaced then looked at the bedroom floor. Clothes were scattered all over the place. She realized what had obviously gone on and screamed. Edward shot up and looked at Bella.

"What?" he asked.

"Are you wearing clothes?" Bella asked.

Edward looked under the covers as well and grimaced. Bella glared at him.

"Get out."

"What?"

"I said get out Edward! You got what you wanted. You got me again for the last time and you get to see Carlie again. This was a mistake. A very big mistake! Now get out!" she screamed at him.

Edward didn't want to fight so got out of the bed and quickly got dressed. He made his exit from the house and sighed as he got in the car. That was not how he wanted the visit to go.

Meanwhile upstairs Bella had gotten herself dressed and had decided to go and visit Carlie to tell her that she could see Edward again. As she drove to Alice's house all she could think about was Edward. She just couldn't get him out of her mind. She parked her car in Alice's drive and walked into the house.

"Hello?" she called.

Carlie came out into the hallway and looked at her mom. She rushed forwards and gave Bella a cuddle.

"Can we talk mom?" Carlie asked.

Bella nodded and allowed her daughter to lead her into the front room. They sat on the sofa together. Carlie looked at Bella and sighed.

"I saw dad today," she told her.

"I know. He told me. Listen me and your dad have spoken to each other. We didn't shout for once and we've decided that we can try to be friends for your sake. You can start staying with him again."

Carlie nodded then said, "Dad gave me a cell. He said that I can call him whenever on it. Is that okay mom?"

"It's fine sweetheart."

"He told me that you'd never get back together."

Bella thought of the afternoon's events when Carlie mentioned that. She knew that before it had all gotten out of hand that there may have been a possibility of them getting back together but she wasn't so sure. Would Edward still want her after she told him that it was a mistake and to get out?

"No I don't think we will but we're friends. That's good right?"

"Yeah better than before. Um I spoke to Alice today. I asked if I could come home."

Bella's breath hitched in her throat and she grinned at Carlie.

"Are you sure? You want to come home?" she exclaimed.

"Of course I do. I'm packed. Can we go now?" Carlie asked.

"Well is it okay if we stay for dinner first. Home isn't going anywhere Carlie," Bella replied.

Carlie smiled at Bella then cuddled her again. As Bella cuddled her daughter she couldn't help but think that maybe things were going back to how they were again. She just needed to fix things with Edward.

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