Disclaimer- I don't own these characters. :)

Chapter 13

I woke up the next morning and knew. Luke, that was my choice. I definitely wanted Edward around, but for Ean, not for me. I loved Edward, and the Cullens, but it was Luke. I couldn't explain my reasoning, it was just a feeling, I was following my heart. Luke made me happy, and I wanted to be with him. I had done exactly what Edward had always wanted, moved on and fallen in love with someone I could grow old with.

I did not feel bad doing that, and even if it was cruel, I knew Edward would never object to something that made me happy, and didn't put my safety in jeopardy. I got up, noticed Ean was still sleeping, and walked downstairs. In a house full of vampires, a baby monitor looks very silly. I had not decided how to tell Edward on purpose, because I knew Alice couldn't control whether or not he was around when she saw it.

I walked into the kitchen, and was greeted with Esme making pancakes and eggs for me and Ean. I asked where Edward was, and was painfully aware of the way her face lit up when I said his name. He was right behind me, and said

"Good morning Bella," before Esme had a chance to respond. I looked up at him, still enjoying his butterscotch eyes, even though I probably about to wipe the beautiful crooked smile right off of his face.

"Can we take a walk or something?" He nodded and was back with my coat before I had finished asking Esme to keep an ear out for Ean.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, but I guessed we were out of vampire hearing range, because Edward looked at me expectantly and said

"So Bella, what do you need to talk about?" He didn't look happy, but he didn't look upset, just curious.

"How do you know I have something to say?" I was a little afraid that I had decided something crucial, and he knew everything.

"With all the time we spent together, I like to think that I still know a few things about you, like when you have something you don't want my family to hear." He smiled slightly, a playful glint in his still beautifully light eyes. I couldn't help it as a smile flitted across my face, but it quickly fell away when I remembered what I was going to have to do now.

"Edward, I've been thinking a lot. And it's not fair for me to string along you or Luke, and I don't even know if you still want to be with me or not, but I just wanted to tell you I'm staying with Luke. I love you Edward, and you know that, but I love Luke too, and he is my husband and he has been a father to Ean since I met him. And I don't want you to be upset Edward, because this is what you wanted. From what your telling me, you left so I would do this. I figured that out, and if you can believe it, I fell in love again for you. I felt like not trying to live and love and be happy was completely disregarding you, and somehow invalidating how much I cared about you. So even though it seems like I'm choosing him over you, it is for you. As screwed up as that seems, but—"

I was cut off by Edward's lips on mine. And to be honest, it was so much more then I had ever thought it had been before. His love was painfully clear to me, and I am sure that the way I kissed him back with more passion then I ever had before made my own love very clear as well. It wasn't long and drawn out, but for all of the emotions poured into that first time our lips had touched in over 3 years, it could have lasted forever and not have been long enough.

One thing that I also knew, was that it was his way of saying goodbye to us. Because even the most articulate man I had ever met could not find the words to express his feelings at really ending our romantic endeavors. It was over before I could even think, but I knew my eyes said it all. Edward held me to his chest as I clung to him for one last time, reveling in the moment.

"I'm sorry Edward." I managed to choke out while tears streamed freely down my face. But as he buried his face in my hair and tightened his hold on me, he whispered

"It was never your fault to begin with."

And I knew then, that it really hadn't been either of our faults, and also that somehow, someday, everything would really be okay.

A/N I'M SORRY. PLEASE PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND RETURN TO YOUR KEYBOAEDS QUIETLY. You must try to understand, it's the story, it has a mind of it's own. It's ridiculously short, I'm aware. But I just like to keep my chapters on topic, and I'm so proud of this that I was afraid to add anything else and ruin it. So please, big long reviews about what you think of this chapter, and me, and my story, and on another note, I thought about something Mushere asked me, and in my imaginary world of Bella, Luke and the Cullens, Bella and Luke did discuss more children. But they decided to wait until Ean was older and their lives felt a little more stable before pro-creating. To me, Bella pushed waiting, because she was scared about taking any more big chances right away, with her life just getting comfortable again.

Also, this is up so fast because we won our game and school is cancelled for tomorrow, and because I may have re-injured myself, updates may be coming much closer together.

As always, special thanks to Aerith72, Anna562(Thank you for all the reviews and welcome to my story!), CMGeek, skyangel82, SilverAngel1234, HONVampyreChick(100 REVIEW.=D), Musehere(I thought about what you said, and I hope I answered your question in the A/N),Misti D, kaceekittykat, Zynthia, EdwardsCandycane, and RK13 for reviewing so quickly and getting me really excited about posting this one. Please don't give up on me if this chapter doesn't make you so happy.

-Caitlin