My mind reeled with the knowledge that Chris had predicted the exact scene I stood overlooking from his bedroom doorway. I remembered disregarding his earlier statement about playing trains and attributing it to his excitement over having visitors join us. However, there was no denying the accuracy of his claim as I watched him listen intently to Jasper's explanation on the construction of tracks. He'd had a vision, and it was entirely accurate.

"Build the bridge here!" Chris clapped his hands once, and Jasper laughed heartily. The sound was unfamiliar to me, and I realized with a start that I absolutely loved it. When Jasper laughed, the sound was completely genuine. It carried with it a feeling of true bliss, and I knew it was partly his gift, but also his true enjoyment that caused the euphoric lift. Alice appeared as moved as I felt.

"Good idea," Jasper replied, his graceful hands finding the appropriate pieces of track a second before snapping them into place.

I remained quiet for a bit, watching with adoration as Chris observed everything Jasper did while constructing a circular path out of the numerous track pieces in the bucket.

"That's perfect," Alice praised their combined efforts.

"Thanks," Chris and Jasper mumbled simultaneously without giving her a second of their attention. It was too cute.

It was so pure and perfect, and I didn't miss the smile that spread across Alice's face.

I hung back for a few more minutes, smiling when Alice finally looked up and caught me.

"Alice, can I talk with you?" I asked, doing my best to keep my voice light and carefree.

She nodded instantly and patted Jasper on the knee once before leaving his side. He shot us both a huge grin.

Chris didn't pay me any attention. He was thoroughly entertained.

Alice barely made it out of the bedroom before she confirmed my suspicions.

"Yes, he saw my vision," she explained quietly as she grasped my elbow and guided me to the kitchen.

"Really? So, you had a vision of them playing with the train set?"

"I did. It came to me while Edward was flapping his gums about my early visit. I was still on the porch," she added.

I concluded that, in fact, that was the exact moment during which Chris had frozen on top of the slide. He not only saw it, but he shared it with her as it was happening.

"Hey, I heard that, Alice," Edward's voice came from the direction of the backyard.

I turned to face him.

The look I gave him must have been intense, because he quickly grew serious and moved to my side.

"Chris sees her visions," I said, not believing how easily such bizarre words rolled off my tongue.

Edward pursed his lips and nodded his head.

"I figured as much. He kept thinking about the trains throughout the evening, and I knew of Alice's vision so I thought the coincidence was unlikely."

"You could have told me," I mumbled.

He ran his hand over my arm.

"I didn't want to get you excited if it was nothing."

Alice remained quiet, but she had a soft smile on her face as she stood across from Edward and me.

"Apparently, Chris is very sensitive to the abilities of those around him," she then stated.

I did not say anything as I considered her words. It seemed as if there was a beacon of truth in her theory, but there was nothing I could think of to warrant my complete confidence in the idea. It was so out there. I thought of Chris' ability to hear Edward's thoughts, but not those of other's. I considered his prediction of the playtime he was engaged in as well as the display of similar emotions to Jasper. It was all very puzzling. It all coincided with Alice's assumption.

Edward tightened his hold on me before speaking, "I think she's right."

I gulped, and Alice looked at me with a concerned grimace.

"How?" I whispered. She just shrugged with a content look on her face.

"It will be alright, Bella. I promise," she said cheerfully.

Edward must have whispered something too quietly for me to hear, because she then turned on her heel and left us without a word.

I faced him with a slight scowl, "Are you telling me everything you know?"

"Of course. If there is anyone who deserves to know what's going on, it's you," he asserted.

"That's right."

"Look, Bella, I know this is really strange."

"And, completely out of the blue," I added before he could continue.

Edward paused and shook his head agreeably, "Right. It all started when I showed up, which means that something about being in our presence has sparked these abilities."

"He's just a little boy, though. I don't understand," I explained honestly.

He moved to hold me. I went willingly into his arms, my head resting against his quiet chest. I felt his cool breath wash over the crown of my head.

"I think it must have something to do with your mind being silent to me. Something about your makeup combined with your intimate knowledge of us and our existence is now a part of Chris. I don't know if it has something to do with..." he trailed off quietly, and I pulled back from his arms to look at him.

I urged him to continue gently, "Something to do with?"

Then, I knew. I knew what he was referring to. The conversation I'd overheard him having with Carlisle suddenly made more sense.

"Phoenix," we said together.

He nodded.

I swallowed nervously, not because it was uncomfortable for me to think about, but because the word sent a flame of recognition licking through me.

"You mean the venom?"

Edward regarded me carefully before nodding his head once.

"First, I believe that he is perfectly healthy. Alice's visions confirm that," he began.

I nodded.

"The truth is, Carlisle doesn't believe there's been an instance where venom was introduced into a human body only to be removed a short time later."

"Go on," I insisted.

"It didn't change you, and you didn't die," his voice became grave, so I reached out and ran my hands over his upper arms.

"No, it didn't, and I didn't," my voice was hushed but strong.

"That's...extraordinary," he added.

"It was. Thanks to you," I tried my best to reassure him, because I could tell that this particular trip down memory lane was quickly becoming excruciating for him.

"Your blood affects me like no other's."

I returned my head to his chest, his arms wrapping around me before I answered, "Yes."

"And, now, your son appears to share the gifts of the vampires he's close to."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't.

"What does it all mean?" I finally prodded.

His fingers wove themselves through my hair, and I sighed when I felt his thumbs rub ever so gently over my jaw and cheeks. The pads of his fingers caressed my scalp. There was no sweeter feeling than the one that owned me when his lips dropped to press butterfly kisses all over my lips and chin.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he whispered between kisses.

"You're not going to tell me he's the next Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or something, are you?" I asked with a soft laugh.

Edward tightened his arms.

"God, I hope not," he laughed brightly.

"He's special, Bella. We'll figure out why," he added solemnly.

"I'm not scared by it anymore," I said after a minute.

His hands stilled in question.

"I'm not. I have to accept it. It's part of who he is, and you're right; we will find answers. I trust it," I explained.

Edward smiled softly.

"I love you so much." The forcefulness behind his words was staggering.

He didn't give me enough time to return the sentiment. His lips were urgent on my skin, his hands slipping from my hair to my hips.

"I love you, too," I managed just before his lips claimed mine in a fiery kiss.

His moan of approval and appreciation was the end of our conversation for the time being.

The rest of the weekend passed quickly and comfortably. Jasper and Alice left on Saturday night, but only after Chris fell asleep on his bedroom floor in the middle of the most impressive display of train track construction I'd ever seen. It was a fantastic visit, and I was eager to see the rest of the family the following weekend.

Edward spent most of Sunday with us, hanging out with Chris, and even tagging along to the grocery store. He sat down to dinner on Sunday night, and Chris chose that moment to shock us.

"Are you going to be with my mommy now?" He mumbled through a full bite of lasagna.

I coughed on a piece of pasta and took a huge drink of tea.

"Sweetie, don't talk with your mouth full," I quickly added once I was able to swallow, hoping to give Edward some time to come up with an answer since I needed a minute, or eighty, to come up with an appropriate explanation myself.

Of course, I'd given thought to how this conversation would play out, but I didn't expect Chris to question Edward's presence quite so quickly. We'd been careful to make sure that Chris didn't see Edward in my bedroom. There was no way he knew that he was sharing my bed at night, and I was certain he hadn't witnessed any real intimacy between the two of us. There was the issue of Chris reading Edward's mind, but I had no doubt that Edward would keep anything of a heavy nature away from his attention.

Edward smirked at me. Then, he winked; he was actually reassuring me. The wink was adorable. I caught my breath, and I'm sure the blush on my cheeks was noticeable if my increasing heartbeat was any indication.

Naturally, there was no food in front of him, and I watched as he folded his hands on the table and leaned forward as if he was about to reveal a huge secret. Chris mirrored his movements, leaning forward in his chair until they were close enough to butt heads if they nodded. The stare-off was on.

"I think your mom is the most amazing woman in the world," Edward began, and I tried to tell him with my eyes that I would answer for him if he was uncomfortable.

Chris smiled brightly. Edward followed suit, completely ignoring me.

"I think so too," Chris whispered, and I wondered if he was simply agreeing with Edward's statement, or answering an unspoken thought of Edward's.

It was slightly uncomfortable to know that they were capable of conversing secretly. If not for my complete trust in Edward, I would have been chanting 'what, what, what,' from my seat, but there was just no way I could interrupt them. The picture they made was priceless and heartwarming. They were completely attuned to each other.

"Is it okay with you if I'm around, you know, with you and mommy?" Edward asked, and I bit my lip to quell the sudden rush of emotions his question evoked.

It was so moving because it was blatant evidence of Edward's growth during our years apart. Before, Edward was always very considerate of Charlie's wishes and took responsibility extremely seriously, but he rarely asked for permission, or opinions, when making important decisions. He never considered compromise when we were together, because he was certain that his plans were the safest. He was stubborn, perhaps even cocky, and I knew that while he might have doubted himself, he never let others know of his insecurity.

Yet, as I watched him with Chris, it was clear that he wanted and needed Chris' complete acceptance. It meant everything to him. He saw my son as an extension of me, and he was desperate for a place in his heart as well. I wasn't sure how any doubt still lingered in his heart after Chris' clear displays of trust, but I also knew that there were many aspects of Edward's psyche that I was still unaware of.

"It's okay," Chris answered as he poked his fork at another bite of lasagna and stuffed it in his mouth.

Edward appeared confused by the nonchalant attitude Chris used when answering.

I counted off the seconds in my head until I knew he would prod for more information. I didn't even make it to three-one-thousand, "Really?" Edward asked, his tone hopeful. His eyes shot to mine, and I smiled warmly.

Chris took a sip of apple juice and let his fork drop to his plate. "Yeah," he nodded for emphasis.

"That means a lot to me, Chris."

I studied them both. They were a good team. Chris resumed eating.

He finished chewing a particularly huge bite and sat still for a moment. He looked to Edward.

"I don't want you to leave," he further explained once he was sure he had Edward's complete attention.

Edward and I shared a powerful reaction to that innocent statement. Chris spoke from his heart, and I knew Edward was moved because Chris' thoughts obviously mirrored his spoken words exactly.

"I won't," Edward replied. His voice was thick with conviction, and I instinctively reached out to run my hand over Chris' back.

He turned to face me with a smile before answering, "Good. That's good."

Edward nodded and slowly leaned back in his chair. I took a deep breath and did the same.

"Can we have dessert now?" Chris asked, causing both Edward and I to laugh at his rapid change of topics. To him, the matter was settled, and he was ready to move on. Chocolate cupcakes were waiting.

It was three-thirty in the afternoon the following day when I felt dread seize me at the sight of him walking toward us. We planned for him to join us all along, and I was prepared for the impending conversation, but I had no idea what his reaction would be, so the unknown element was disconcerting. It could have gone so many ways...

Chris yanked his hand from mine and took off running. I smiled at his eagerness and waved.

"Daddy!"

Josh's eyes lit up, and I chuckled when he feigned a grunt at the impact of Chris' body into his waiting arms. He picked him up with such ease, one hand gently pushing the brim of Chris' baseball hat back so that he could get a good look at him.

"Hi, buddy. I've missed you big time," he said, pausing only to kiss his cheeks.

"Missed you, too," Chris answered. He then laid his head on Josh's shoulder and squeezed his arms around his neck.

It was an adorable sight, and I felt nothing but thankfulness that Josh made a conscious effort to be everything Chris needed through the turmoil of our divorce.

"Are you ready for this?" Josh asked once Chris pushed back from his arms.

He braced his hands on Josh's wide shoulders and nodded excitedly.

"Totally!"

"Good. That's my boy."

"It's not regular t-ball season, but I'm playing with my school team, and we have our first game in a couple weeks," Chris spoke quickly through his eagerness, and I chuckled at Josh's wide eyes.

"Awesome."

"Yeah, and if I like it, Mommy said I can play for real in Springtime."

"I think that sounds great," Josh answered as he put him down before waving his hand to indicate that Chris should lead the way.

I was only a few feet away. When they reached my side, Josh extended one arm and pulled me gently to his side as we walked together.

"Hi, Bella," he said softly, his lips pressing a chaste kiss to the side of my head while his arm squeezed once, causing the sides of our bodies to be flush together for an instant. He let me go then, and I gave him a quick smile.

"Josh, it's good to see you," I answered.

He gave me a big smile, "You too. How is everything?" He asked warmly.

Chris looked up at us from his spot on Josh's right.

"Things are good. We're great," I explained honestly, smiling when I caught Chris' nod of agreement.

"Let's go, Chris! We're ready to get started," a loud voice called from the other side of the fence.

"Have fun, Chris. Daddy and I will be right over there watching," I said, pointing at a set of bleachers just behind the dugout.

"K."

He paused once we reached the opening of the gate and looked expectantly at Josh. I knew he was looking for an extra vote of confidence, and it warmed my heart. He had always been a very secure child, but he benefited from an extra boost of support.

Josh understood immediately.

"Come here, kiddo. Remember what we talked about last time? Always keep your eye on the ball, and you'll be set," Josh kneeled and ran his hands over Chris' arms.

Chris nodded eagerly.

"Yep. Got it. Edward helped me practice that a lot, too," he said smoothly, and I cringed when the name rolled right off his lips like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Josh froze but recovered nicely. He nodded once, and Chris took off in the direction of his coach.

I held my breath, wondering if just maybe he'd assume it was a different Edward our son was referring to. Once Josh stood and turned his eyes to me, I had my answer. Apparently, he didn't know many Edwards.

"Edward?" His voice was ominous, and I took a moment to steel myself. There was absolutely no way I was going to allow him to give me a hard time when his actions, and decisions of the past, completely disregarded my feelings altogether.

"I wanted to tell you first," I began.

He cut me off with a frantic shake of his head.

"The Edward?"

I watched him carefully, noting the way his shoulders bunched up, visible even under his bulky sweatshirt.

I was sure that he had his answer just from the look on my face, but he waited for me to say it.

"Yes," I whispered, my eyes trained on his jeans and tennis shoes. Jeans I bought for him. The shoes, too.

"Bella?" The torn sound of his voice forced me to meet his penetrating stare, and I mentally chided myself for not facing him head on in the first place.

"When did this happen?" He practically begged. I put my hands in my jean pockets and kicked a foot in the dirt.

"Only a few days ago."

"My God," he trailed off.

"I know," I replied quietly.

He shook his head as if to clear it before running his hand over his face.

"He's been with Chris?" He asked carefully, his head turning to watch our son who was busy laughing and playing around on the field.

"Yes. He's fantastic with him. I wouldn't allow it otherwise," I explained.

"You're sure?" He asked.

I bristled but did my best to keep my temper in check.

"Of course."

"I trust you," he said fervently once the tide of anger left us both.

"Thank you," I answered.

A moment of silence passed between us as we moved to sit on the metal bench.

"I don't like it," he said somberly after a moment.

"You don't have to like it, Josh," I said gently, but with purpose.

"I didn't like Lisa," I added bitingly when he didn't reply. I knew that was a low blow, but I had to remind him of the artillery in my camp.

"You still don't like her," he retorted.

I grunted and defended myself, "I don't hate her. That's something, right?" I asked, smiling despite the painful memories.

The wind kicked up, and I shivered slightly.

He sighed. I was so familiar with that particular sigh. He had so many variations of them, and the one he chose meant resignation.

"It is," he answered brokenly, and my heart waged a war with my head. I wanted to reach for his hand, but I knew that I'd draw no comfort from it. It was Edward's hand I wanted in mine, and only his. It wasn't my place to reassure Josh anymore. He made his bed.

"How?" He asked quietly.

"Umm, there's no big story, really. He came back. He heard of our divorce," I decided to be as truthful as possible without revealing any real detail.

Josh knew Edward's name, knew of our short time together, and knew that I considered him my first true love. He knew that I was still devastated and broken-hearted at the start of college because of my experiences with Edward, but he knew of nothing else. Regardless of the extent of my pain over the past with Edward, I could never risk divulging secrets that were not mine to share. I never even considered confiding in anyone about the Cullen's lives. I didn't desire the obvious worries about my mental health, and I would not betray their confidence at any cost.

"What? He's just been waiting in the wings then?" He asked with an irritated tone.

"Something like that. The circumstances suck, but I'm happy," I offered him as much truth as possible.

He bit his lip gently, and his eyes warmed as they studied me. "Well, I guess that's what matters. How can I argue with that? You do look great, Bella," he whispered, and I patted his shoulder in response.

"Thank you, I think," I answered.

He was pensive for a moment. I gave him his space.

"The guy probably hates me, huh?" he muttered after a moment, and I bit back my laughter. He didn't really want the answer to that question.

He watched me carefully. If he only knew...

I shrugged after a minute and reached for my bag. I busied myself by pulling out a small water bottle for Chris and ripping open a new bag of sunflower seeds. I huffed softly and extended my left hand out to Josh, the bag of seeds symbolizing a truce of sorts.

He eyed them, his attention shifting from me to Chris as the coach guided him up to the batting tee and gave some directions.

"Ranch?" He asked softly.

"No, you know Barbecue are my favorite."

"Gross, they're disgusting. Ranch or Salsa are the best," he continued.

My arm was getting tired.

"Do you want some or not?" I asked, a slight chuckle slipping through the irritation.

He was silent for a moment. The wind picked up and carried with it the cracking sounds of bats and excited shouts from all over the little league.

I gave up and withdrew my offering.

"I just can't believe he's back," he whispered instead.

I sighed. It was so like Josh to brush something off at first, then bring it up after he'd digested the information.

"He's back," I confirmed.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, Bella. I'm happy you're dating. I think it's good for you. But, him, I mean what are the odds?"

"Pretty good, apparently," I replied with a bit of sarcasm. After all, it was his ex who'd destroyed our relationship.

Chris swung the bat and knocked the ball off the tee, sending it skipping between the pitcher's mound and third base.

"Good job, buddy!" Josh cheered.

He turned to look at me once more.

"You want a relationship with him?"

I knew the moment of reckoning had arrived. I looked into my ex-husband's eyes and confessed just how badly I wanted another man. "I do."

He blinked rapidly a few times before nodding his head in acceptance.

He said nothing for almost five minutes. I quietly watched as the kids took turns batting. I expertly shelled a few seeds at a time in my mouth, relaxing with each passing minute.

"Well, can I have some?" Josh suddenly asked.

I laughed, and he joined me.

"Yeah, of course you can," I said before tossing him the bag.

He gave me a small but genuine smile, "Thanks."

"Anytime."

It was almost eleven thirty before I made it to bed that night. I hadn't seen Edward all day since he'd left to hunt in the early morning hours, and Chris' after school activities kept us busy till almost six. I made dinner, helped him with his homework, gave him a bath, did some laundry, made a lunch for the next day, and practically crawled into bed after it all.

Edward said he'd be back for the night, but I wasn't sure what time that meant. I kicked off the socks I'd worn for the majority of the night, sighing blissfully as I ran my bare feet through the cool sheets. The TV provided the only light in my bedroom, and I felt sleep calling almost immediately. As I slowly drifted off, I thought about Josh and his reaction to the news of Edward's return. I made a mental note to call my mom the following day and fess up..at least a little.

I couldn't have been asleep for very long when I heard the soft click of the front door. It made me happy that he felt comfortable enough to use the spare key I left for him on the entryway table. He'd given me a slightly uneasy glance when I pointed to it the night before, but after my challenging glare, he wordlessly slipped it into his pocket and thanked me with a smirk.

I tried my best to strain and hear him as he approached, but the only indication that he was entering the room was the shadow which skirted over the darkened walls. The moment he crossed the threshold, I felt an overwhelming peace settle over me. He didn't make a sound. I figured he knew I was awake since the variation in my breathing and heartbeats would be obvious, but I wanted him to make himself at home. The past few nights, he had been more comfortable with me, but he still hesitated in seeking the comfort I knew he desired.

I felt the comforter slide infinitesimally lower on my body as it was pulled back before the bed dipped. I was on my side, my back to Edward, and I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my lips when his arms reached out and gently pulled my body back to align with his. It was complete perfection. He'd removed his jeans, and his bare legs intertwining with mine broke me. I turned in his arms and pressed a kiss to his chest. He kept his t-shirt on, so I slid my fingertips underneath the hem of it, keeping my head down and away from his eyes.

"Bella," my name tumbled from his lips, sounding like a prayer of thanks and a plea for help at the same time.

I slid my hands up, stopping when they were flat over his ribs. I was still. I felt his finger under my chin. I tipped my head back and met his stare for the first time.

"How was it?" He whispered.

I licked my lips and flexed my fingers over his chest. His eyes flickered closed. It was so endearing.

"Good. He's sure you hate him," I answered once his eyes reopened.

"Smart guy," he mumbled.

I chuckled quietly as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"He was very understanding for the most part. I told him about the trip. He's okay with it," I explained.

Edward seemed relieved.

"We can really go to Oregon?" He sounded so excited.

"Yes, Edward. We're going," I answered.

His arms tightened.

"I missed you today," I said after a minute.

Another deep sigh caused my body to move with it, my hands rising and falling with the unnecessary movement.

"I miss you every minute that I'm not with you," he spoke passionately.

"Mmm, how sweet, baby," I whispered, squirming in his arms in order to reach his ear. I dropped kisses there, ducking my head down to reach the spot behind his earlobe.

"I meant it," he replied gruffly, his breaths growing quicker by the second. I nodded. He kissed my neck once.

I pulled back and moved one hand to thread my fingers through his hair before replying, "So did I. Always."