With You
Chapter 12

"Bella."

Bella sighed. She paused while trying to put a casserole dish in the dishwasher.

"Shall we tell him?"

Closing the dishwasher door, she composed herself. Then she stared directly into his eyes. Edward was a sight in his navy slacks and emerald cashmere sweater. "Are you sure you want this?" she asked him quietly.

Edward took another step closer while still respecting her personal space. What he would give to actually have her in his arms. "I do want this, Bella." I want it all. I want you, he added to himself.

The woman pursed her lips. "There's no going back, Edward," she warned.

"I'm fully aware."

"Do you want me to break it to him?"

He shook his head, his green eyes holding her brown ones. "Let me."

He let her dry her hands before ushering her back to the living room. Her hair caressed her back, the scent tantalizing him. He couldn't help but watch her hips sway subtly as she walked in front of him.

He had begged Alice to stay away for Christmas. He wanted to have Bella and Caleb to himself for the holidays. For the first time in so many years, especially after his parents' death, he felt like as if he belonged to a family. Bella was still slightly hostile around him, but the woman was coming around. She was never downright rude to him, which amazed him to no end.

He wanted to wear down her guard. He wanted her to welcome him into her arms. But he knew better than to push too hard.

"Edward, I need help to build the fire truck!" Caleb called out from his place on the living room carpet. Edward had gotten him toys and gifts enough to entertain a whole kindergarten of kids, and Caleb's favorite was the Lego City Fire Collection.

Esme and Carlisle had been briefed about the situation. They still had their reservations about the rich man from Seattle, but they were slowly warming up to him. Carlisle took notice on how the man doted on his employer, and that it went unnoticed to said, woman.

"Are you enjoying your Christmas, Caleb?"

The little boy nodded his head enthusiastically. "Yes, sir, because I got to spend it with you, Pop Carlisle, Gemma Esme, and Mommy!"

Edward felt some sort of pride springing in his chest. He felt a surge of happiness that his son loved having him around. "You don't mind me spending Christmas with you and Mommy?" He asked for clarification. He needed it as a boost.

"I'm happy you're around, Edward," the little boy replied, beaming.

Edward inhaled deeply, feeling encouraged by his son's display. He cast a look at the beautiful woman on the floor sitting by his son. He saw her nodding her head, her face a blank mask. I'm doing this for you and for him, Bella. Please give me a chance, he pleaded silently.

"Caleb, Mommy and I have something to tell you," he started nervously.

The boy looked up expectantly.

"It is important for you to understand it fully, so don't hesitate to ask any questions if you don't, okay?"

Nodding, Caleb replied, "Okay."

Here goes nothing, he thought. "Mommy and I had known each other when we were little, and then we met again about five years ago."

"Did you use to play together like Phoebe and I do?"

Edward looked up to see Bella's response to Caleb's question. The woman refrained from snorting, bless her. "Um well, we were not really friends then. Mommy was friends with my sister, though."

"Aunt Alice? The pretty lady in the picture?"

"Yes, that's her. Mommy and Aunt Alice were best friends."

Caleb frowned. "Phoebe and I are best friends, and we play together every day. Did you guys have a fight, Mommy?"

Bella pursed her lips. "No, baby, I didn't have a fight with Aunt Alice. I had to move because of my job so I couldn't see her every day because of that."

"Oh, okay. Did you and Edward finally become friends after you met five years ago?" Caleb asked.

Both adults looked at each other. "Mommy and I got married five years ago, Caleb," Edward spoke gently.

Caleb contemplated for a few seconds. "So you're my Daddy," he said as a matter of fact.

They were shocked by Caleb's quick deduction. Edward nodded quickly. "Yes, I am your daddy, Caleb."

"Well, I knew all along," the boy shrugged.

"How?" Bella uttered, speechless.

"Mommy, Edward and I both have red hair and green eyes. It's as easy as math," Caleb spoke, rolling his eyes.

Edward marveled at the brilliant mind of their child. His eyes watered slightly. He was relieved that Caleb wasn't upset with the whole turn of event. "Is it all right, Caleb?"

"Is it all right that you're my daddy you mean?"

Edward nodded, his heart beating fast.

"I like you being my daddy," Caleb smiled shyly.

Bella almost choked on her tears, while Edward brought a hand to cover his mouth. "I like being your daddy too," he choked.

"It's okay, Edward," Caleb spoke again. "It's okay that you were away. I know you were busy."

Overwhelmed by emotions, Edward grabbed his son and enveloped him in his arms. "I'm sorry, Caleb. Daddy's sorry that I was away."

"Don't cry, Edward. Is it okay if I call you Daddy from now on?" The child inquired, patting his father's back awkwardly.

"I would love that very much, Caleb. Thank you."

Bella's tears were running freely down her face upon witnessing the emotional display. Guilt ate at her heart. It was her fault that Caleb wasn't known to his father earlier. It was her fault that she deprived them of each other. She covered her mouth to avoid the sob that was impending.

As if Edward could detect her distress, the man reached out to grab her hand in comfort. Together the three of them became a link, chained together by the small boy in between.

He had just finished tucking Caleb in for the first time officially as his dad. He had spent some time caressing the boy's head, and kissing his forehead. He felt some inner peace that Caleb had acknowledged him as his father. Edward had never thought he could feel some sort of attachment to another individual, but it was exactly what he felt with his son, increasingly so with his son's mother too.

He found her sitting in the dark of her room, sobbing quietly. He felt dismayed to be the cause of her pain. Slowly, he cracked the door open wider as not to spook her. He gently sat down next to her on her bed.

Realizing his presence, Bella quickly wiped her tears.

They sat in silence together. No one spoke for a while.

"I'm sorry I kept Caleb from you. I did try to tell you," she started softly, staring at her hands.

"That night in Blue Lounge?" He asked. Past regrets haunted him.

She nodded.

"I'm sorry I was too chickenshit to face you alone. Irina was there to throw you off," he admitted.

"You were afraid I was going to beg you to stay," she stated, matter-of-factly.

"I was not a good man, Bella. I was pompous and a jackass. I'm sorry my past behavior turned you away from me," he sighed. "I don't blame you for not telling me. You were right, I would have demanded you to do something we both might have regretted later."

Neither spoke again until Bella broke the silence.

"Caleb is my world, Edward. I don't think I could survive if you took him away," she whispered.

He fell on his knees in front of her reaching for her cold hands. "I won't ever take you away from Caleb, Bella. You are his mother, his life," he vowed adamantly.

"Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but what changed?" Bella questioned, skeptically.

Edward chuckled, squeezing Bella's hands gently. He couldn't resist laying a kiss on them. "Besides the fact that you literally gave me life again, you mean?"

"Edward, even if you were a stranger, I would have tried my best to save you," Bella argued. "I don't want our truce to be about you being indebted to me."

"How do you expect me not to feel indebted, Bella? You saved me when I didn't deserve saving." He stared at their hands melded together.

"Don't be, Edward. I just did what any decent human being would do. I'm a doctor. It's my job to try my best to save lives," she replied adamantly. "Please don't talk like that. You're a father, somebody's brother, a valuable member of the community. You deserved saving. Everybody deserves a second chance in life."

"I was so horrible to you; so despicable. I don't know how you could overlook that, Bella," he whispered, his eyes were still on their hands.

The silence was deafening.

"You move on, Edward. I moved on. You forgive, and you make peace," she replied. "All the hatred would catch up to me. I'm a mother; I can't afford to stay angry all the time. It's not about you and me. It's about you and Caleb."

"I can't thank you enough for taking a chance with me. I know it must be hard. I don't deserve your kindness."

"Like I told you, it's about you and Caleb. I respect your prerogative to exercise your rights as Caleb's father. I've seen so many families who undergo difficult times making decisions for their children, not thinking what's best for them."

"We may never be anything to each other, but I can be amiable to you. Feuding is a waste of time. We don't have to be friends for you to be a good father to Caleb. But rest assured Edward, my boy deserves that; a good father."

"That's the thing, Bella. I want to make amends with you too. You are a priority. I know the wound is too raw, I was harsh beyond belief. Therefore I won't be pushing you. But make no mistake, I want to pursue this subject again when you're comfortable."

She exhaled. "Let sleeping dogs lie, Edward."

"You're too important."

Bella chuckled, not convinced. "From experience, this...gratitude will fade. I shall bide my time." She gave him a wan smile and stood, relinquishing his hold on her. "It has been an exhausting day. If you don't mind."

He watched as the door closed slowly on his face. It didn't go unnoticed how it almost felt as if she was closing her heart to him.

Her words made a resounding echo in his head.

I moved on...
We may never be anything to each other...
Let sleeping dogs lie...

The wooden door felt cold against his forehead, as cold as the proverbial knife piercing his heart.

A/N: Huge thanks to my Beta, SunflowerFran of Pay It Forward. She made the chapter so much neater. Thank you for reading. I did say it's going to be a slow burn, so don't worry about Bella jumping into bed with Edward soon :)

By the way, I love all the angsty song recommendations! Let's change the tune a bit, what's your favorite fight song?

Read and review, lovelies :)