Bella's POV

Being friends with Edward was easy. Aside from our initial guilt and fears, and wondering whether it was even okay for us to interact… we both found that we enjoyed one another's company – quickly closing the awkward gap, and becoming close as we navigated this new world that we found ourselves in.

When I pulled up to Edward's house for lunch the day after our run in with the Newton woman, I smiled when I realised that he was bringing me to his home and not some busy restaurant. He was already getting to know me and my preferences and it was amazing to me that he could read me so well; it was something that Mike had never learned to do.

Lunch was amazing. Edward had grilled some chicken breasts and put together a salad, and he had made fresh lemonade and he had even picked up fresh bread. Everything looked spectacular and it tasted delicious, as we ate in his living room with the wood fireplace burning brightly in front of us.

"I honestly don't know how you have the energy to do all of this… I can barely get the dirty diapers in the bin in the garage right now I'm so exhausted…" I chuckled as he looked sheepishly towards me and I knew that he must have had more help than he was letting on.

"Up until now, I've done everything on my own with Masen. My family helps out here and there… but I don't want them to be obligated to do things for my son just because his mother was…" He paused and swallowed, redirecting his thoughts. "Anyways… last night my brother and his wife came over and they were hanging out with us and before I knew it I crashed. They ended up spending the night and Rosalie got up and helped out with Masen through the night so that I could get a full night's sleep. Normally I wouldn't let them… but I was so out of it I didn't even know until I woke up this morning in a panic, thinking I had slept through Masen's night cries." He explained, his cheeks turning pink at his admission, as though letting someone help out with Masen was making him less of a father.

"As much as I want to do it on my own… I wish I had someone to step in here and there, just to give me a break like that." I sighed quietly, my own thoughts turning bitter at the fact that I really didn't have anyone close enough to me, or that I could trust enough to help out.

The room was quiet. It wasn't awkward, but it was thoughtful as we both turned inwards for another minute, our thoughts surrounding our situations obvious.

"For what it's worth… and I don't know if this is going to scare you away... and I don't care if it's wrong… or too soon… or not proper… or that I'm supposed to be mourning for my husband…" I paused, taking a deep breath and looking back up into his face, his emerald eyes glistening slightly as I spoke, filled with emotion. "But what you said that first day that you came over… I… I agree…" I swallowed again, building up the courage to say what I wanted. "I know that we barely know each other… but I see you with Masen and even with Elizabeth and I wish that I was Masen's mother… that you were Elizabeth's father as well. I wish that I didn't have to deal with a crazy mother-in-law and I wish that I didn't have to be everything for this child who I love so fiercely, but I am terrified to see grow up with just me. I wish I could get to know you deeper… that we could become closer… that I could trust you to be that kind of person in my life…"

"You can Bella." He didn't wait for me to finish, instead placing his plate down and turning towards me.

"That day… when you fed my son for me… I looked at you and I should have been wishing that Tanya was still alive, and that she was there to feed him like that… to love him and care for him. But aside from the fact that she couldn't have loved him that way with the choices that she made on the day that she died… I was thinking about you… I am drawn to you and your voice… and even Elizabeth feels like part of my family already…"

I was crying and I felt him pull me into his arms. I felt him tighten his hold on me and pull me against his chest while his own body pulsed with sobs. I don't know how long we stayed like that, my own arms tightening around his waist. But eventually he began to loosen his hold and although I didn't like it, I loosened mine; pulling back and looking up into his eyes again.

"We'll just take this a day at a time?" He asked cautiously and I smiled, nodding my head.

"I just like to be with you guys… we can worry about right and wrong and defining whatever this is, later."

"Deal." He laughed and then he did what I wanted him to do but hadn't expected. He leaned down and he kissed me. It was chaste and gentle and nothing more… but it was everything and I felt a million different emotions go off at once, my heart feeling stronger than it had in months… possibly even years.

"And we interrupt this moment for diaper duty." I laughed lightly as I saw Elizabeth squirming from the swing that she was rocking in, her face scrunching up in a familiar pout.

The rest of the day flew by… and while I had only planned to stay for lunch, I ended up staying for dinner too… Elizabeth and Masen each in a sling while Edward and I cooked our meal together. As evening descended and the room darkened I prepared to head home…. My mood coming down with the darkness.

"You guys are welcome to stay if you want…" Edward seemed nervous again, but it wasn't a bad nervous. It was an anxious nervous…. Like he was hoping that I would say yes.

"I should get home… I don't have too many diapers left…"

"You know you can use anything I have here… and it's snowing pretty hard… it makes me nervous that you would have to be out in that..." He stuttered out and I smiled, nodding my head.

"You sure you don't mind?" I asked to confirm and he simply grinned at me.

"You guys can take the spare room… take whatever you need for Elizabeth – diapers, sleepers, whatever."

And so I stayed. It went against everything that I would normally have done… but I found that through everything that had happened recently, I had changed. And it was a good change.

That night as I changed into the t-shirt that Edward gave me to wear and climbed into bed, I pulled Elizabeth to me and began to nurse her, hoping that she would be satisfied enough to give me at least a little bit of sleep. When Edward came in to check to make sure that we were okay he stopped at the door, smiling over at us and I shrugged.

"I do wish that Masen could have that… not that… but that bond… that mother who cared…" His smile fell, a frown creasing his forehead as he bounced Masen who began to cry as if on cue.

"Bring him here." I bit down on my lip, unsure of whether or not he would… whether this was stretching the boundaries of our newly forged relationship.

"I don't mind… if you don't mind… at least when I'm here… I mean… formula is fine… but breast-milk has so much… and I have a lot of milk…"

"You don't have to…"

"I know… but Masen is amazing… and I like you…"

And from there I fed Masen while Edward bounced Elizabeth – convincing her to let out a loud burp, before she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. It was an unusual situation, but it was comfortable… and it felt normal. Closing my eyes I silently wished that this was our life.

A few minutes later and I felt the bed dip as Edward sat beside me, leaning his head back with Elizabeth still in his arms.

"I like this." He whispered.

"Me too." I whispered back.