A/N: SM owns all things twilight. I'm just writing my own.

I'm loving the response I'm getting to this story. You're the best. Thank you guys. Here's another chapter. ENJOY:):)

Chapter 12

EPOV

The week following Rose punching was hectic. The producers to my new movie did not like it that I showed up with half my face blue. The make up artist sure grumbled the entire time while trying to cover it up. I tuned her out. I deserved that punch and than some. Bella had great friends judging by how Rose stood up for her.

Jessica laughed her ass off when I met her the next day to discuss future magazine interviews, photo shoots and other film options.

As I walked into the door of her office, she cracked up. Her assistant had been barely able to cover up her laugh. This was starting to bruise my ego.

"Eddie, what the hell happened to you? That girl got a mean right hook, eh?" She laughed while pointing at my face.

I scowled at her, "I'm sure she does but this wasn't her."

"Well who else has you on their hit list?" She could barely contain her laughter.

"Hit list. Funny. No, this was her friend named Rose."

"Rose?" She looked at me questionably.

"Yeah, remember Emmett? My trainer?" She nodded. "His girlfriend and soon to be partner in business. Also Bella's best friend."

She nodded, "She did a number on you as it looks. I'm sure you deserved it."

I glared at her, "I thought you were supposed to be on my side?"

She held up her hand in surrender, "I am. Calm down. But before I left your house I heard a little of the conversation between you and this Bella girl, who by the way is hot." She fanned herself. "And by the sounds of it, you did a number on her in high school. So again, you deserved it."

I scrunched my eyes shut, pinched the bridge of my nose, ow that hurt, and exhaled, "Yeah, I know that better than anyone. Can we get on with business now?"

"Of course." With that she put on her glasses and looked to her computer screen.

2 hours later I left her office with my life mapped out until Christmas. Photo shoots were postponed until my face looked normal again, thank you Rose, which meant a lot of interviews were postponed too. Mostly what I had to do was a few interviews and continue filming. Fairly easy and relaxed.

Last few years, I had spent Christmas here, partying with James, instead of going home but from this year forward, I was going home to spend it with my family. I missed them.

I called my mom telling her that I was coming home for Christmas, even though it was almost 6 months away.

She shrieked into the phone, "Oh honey. I'm so happy you're coming home. We have missed so much." She was starting to cry. Couldn't have that.

"Mom, don't cry. How's your garden?" She loved to garden. After her and dad worked things out, she only did part time working and spent most of her time in her garden or visiting patients at the hospital. Or visiting my dad. I did not want to think about that.

She rattled on about how her garden was in full swing. Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and what not all, she prattled on about it. It made me smile how passionate she was about it.

"Honey? How are you doing?" There it was. I knew she would ask that.

"I'm good mom. Doctor cleared me about a month ago and I've been exercising regularly and I'm off my meds." I hoped that eased her mind.

"That's great honey. But that's not what I meant?" I knew that tone. "How are you doing emotionally. Dealing with your accident?"

Right, she wanted to know that. "I'm good. Some nights I still have nightmares but in most of them now, an angel comes to rescue me." Ok that was a little much information but it was out there now.

"An angel, huh?" She asked teasingly.

If only she knew. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" I ran my hand through my hair.

She hummed her yes. She probably thought I was crazy. We talked a little bit more until I noticed the time and realized I still had my appointment with Emmett.

"Mom, I gotta go. I have an appointment to get to." I was running out the door with my gym bag in hand.

"Oh, ok. We should do this more often. I miss my baby." She did not like goodbyes.

"We will, mom. Say hi to dad and I'll talk to you later, ok? I love you." I said while starting my car.

"We love you too, baby. Be safe out there, ok? Bye." With that she hung up.

I sped towards the gym. Em was gonna kick my ass if I was late.

My thoughts drifted to Bella. What was she doing now? Would she ever wanna see me again? I knew the answer to that one. How could I get her to listen to me? I know I didn't deserve it but I so wanted to be worthy of her. I didn't want her to regret pulling me from my car.

Walking into Rose's Kix, Em came walking towards me out of an office. That's new.

"Hey, man. What's that?" I asked him. Why is he so dressed up?

"New office. Nothin much." Very dismissive with his answer. "Let's get to to it. I'm gonna go change and meet you out here." With that he headed into another room.

I went to change and met him on the gym floor. Like I guessed he was making me work for it today.

Finally, I asked, "What was with the fancy clothes? Having a party or something?"

His eyes glanced towards the new office window and I thought I saw him wink. Was someone else here?

"Yeah, something like that. A friend graduated today and we decided to party here." Again, he was being dismissive.

"What friend?"

"A friend of Rose."

My mind started to go into overdrive. Could it be? Did she graduate today? Was she here?

I heard laughter coming from the office and I stopped. "Em, what's going on? Is Bella here?"

He looked at the office again, his expression sad and I had my answer. She was here. "Em, I need to see her." I got up from the weight bench.

Em took a hold of my arm, "Do you think that's a good idea?"

"Yes it is. I need to make this right. She was to listen to me." I yanked my arm from his grasp and walked to the office.

Walking through the door, my eyes quickly scanned the room and landed on those chocolate brown one that haunted me dreams at night.

"Bella." I couldn't help the sadness that overtook me by seeing the fear in her eyes. "Can we talk?"

Rose went to hug Bella and whispered something in her ear, that made her nod. The short one came up to me.

"I'm Alice. Bella's other best friend." Than she pointed a finger at me, "Make this right or I will have my way with your balls on a cheese grater. Got it?"

I didn't doubt that for one second. I swallowed and mentally cupped my balls, "Yes ma'am." She nodded and left.

I looked back at Bella, who apparently hear shortie, and smiled. God, I loved that smile.

Rose came up to me, "I second what Alice just said. By the way, your face looks great." She left laughing.

I turned back to Bella who had a look of worry on her face. "What did happen to your face?"

I waved my hand dismissively, "Nothing I didn't deserve." It was off to a good start. She wasn't screaming but it was too early to make any assumptions.

Her facial features changed back to blank and crossed her arms over her chest. I was trying hard not to stare at those subtle breasts.

"What are you doing here, Edward?" Straight to the point.

I ran my hand through my hair, "I wanted to apologize for the interview." She went to interrupt but I held up my hand to silence her, "Please. I need to say this. Please."

She exhaled, "Ok. You have 5 minutes." Good enough.

I started to pace. How could I say this without sounding like a selfish prick.

"I don't exactly know where to begin." I was nervous.

"At the beginning, would be nice."

I could do that, "I was a stupid kid in high school. My parents couldn't conceive after me and that caused a rift in their marriage and I didn't know how to deal with it. So I took it out on you. I know that wasn't right. I knew even back than but all I wanted was the attention. I didn't get it at home so I looked for it. I have no way to justify my actions and I'm sorry. I was a stupid ass jock and if I could I would go back and kick my own ass. Bella, I know forgiveness has to be earned and I wanna earn yours. And I also know it's gonna take time and I know for what I did to you it's gonna take a long time. I'm fine with that. I just wanna be worthy of your redemption." I took a deep breath and looked at her. She had unshed tears in her eyes, "You could have let me die and I wouldn't blame you for it if you did. But you saved me. Because of you, I get another chance and I wanna make the most of it. Starting with you."

I took a step towards her but she backed up. "Eric Yorkie."

I hung my head in shame. I knew what that name meant. Being the sick twisted fuck I was in high school, Eric came up with the idea of dating her and than dumping her. For fun. God, I hated myself.

"Bella you have to understand one thing. It was his idea but I went along with it. I know that doesn't make it any better but it's the truth. And I'll hunt him down and kick his ass even now. I am so so sorry."

She was full on sobbing now. I wish she would let me hold her. I tried again. I took another step forward and this time she didn't move. Progress.

She hiccuped, "Do you know why he dumped me?" I shrugged. He had told me she was a bad lay.

"I'm guessing he told you that I slept with him and that it was bad." I nodded. "That's a lie. He dumped me because I wouldn't sleep with him. But the next day, rumors were going around that I would put out for anyone."

She started to pace, "And you fueled the rumor. Laughed at me as you walked by in the halls. Your sick girlfriend wrote 'whore' on my gym clothes and she even tried to accuse me of sleeping with you." She stopped in front of me and pointed her finger at me.

I took a hold of her elbow, a shock rang through my body as I touched her. Not a electrifying shock but something deeper. I could feel it stirring in my head. I heard her gasp and my eyes flew to hers. What was that? Did she feel it too?

"I had no idea she did that. I am sorry for all of that. I know it is all my fault and I'm standing here today begging for your forgiveness." I went to my knees in front of her. "Bella, I know I made your teenage years hell. Even now I can see the affects of it in you. And I apologize for it. I am so sorry. For all of it. Eric, Leah and mostly myself. Can you forgive me? If not now maybe in the future?" I grasped her hands and the current flowed even stronger now.

"Edward, get up." I shook my head. "Please get up. You look ridiculous."

I fixed my eyes on hers, "No, I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. It's long overdue but I'm here now. And I'm not getting up until you give me your answer."

She looked like she was thinking it through. I waited. My knees were starting to protest but I didn't care. Without thinking, my thumbs started to massage the warm, smooth skin of her hands. She was so soft. I started to wonder if she was soft everywhere. Not the time, I thought to myself. So I just watched her. She was beautiful in her yellow sundress. Hair falling over her shoulders. Pouty lips that begged to be kissed. My heart did a double tap at the thought of that. Did I want to kiss her? Yes. Would she want it? Probably not. Would she ever let me? I don't know.

Her eyes met mine, "Edward, I forgive you now. Tomorrow I'll have to do it again and the next day again. I see that you have changed and I wanna believe that it's permanent but my heart isn't there yet. My head believes you but my heart is the one that needs the most healing now."

I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding, "Thank you sounds too cheap to say but it's the only one that I got. So thank you. I will make sure every day that I'm worthy of your forgiveness." I got up, grabbed her and hugged her to me. She yelped in surprise.

At first she didn't hug me back, but I didn't care for that. I got to hug her and it was amazing. I felt her demeanor change after a little while and she hugged me back. My heart again did a double tap. She was hugging me back!

"You stink," she whispered after a little while.

I realized than that I was still in my gym shorts, no shirt and sweat covering my body.

I let her go and chuckled, "I'm sorry. I got carried away." A deep crimson blush covered her cheeks. So beautiful.

"It's ok." She turned to hide her face behind her hair when I reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Don't hide. You're beautiful. And I should have done this at Angela's birthday party. It's long overdue." With that I pulled her towards me and kissed her.

A/N: Oh oh. How is Bella gonna react? What ya think? Don't kill me. (Hiding behind my hair now)

reviews are better than sweat covered sexy Edward...;);)