I know it's been almost two years and I'm incredibly sorry. Many thing have contributed to the delay in updates. One of them were some comments I was getting about the direction of the story. It made me self-conscious about my writing and my ability as a storyteller and I started doubting myself and the story I had created. However, although it's taken two years, I have decided I don't care. People may not like the direction the story is taking but this is the story I have written. And if you don't like it, I'm sorry, but you don't have to read it.

Now, before we get into the new chapter, a few updates. Last time I posted, my nephew, Junior, was two days old. He's turning two next week! Time flies incredibly fast! He's a beautiful, happy, funny, crazy little boy. I also graduated from University in September with a 1st (the highest grade) and have been trying to figure out what to do with my life since haha. Also, in December we welcomed my second nephew, Jesse. I could not be more in love with my two nephews, who are the spitting image of each other and could not adore each other more.

So, that's been my life over the last two years. Hope you've all been okay.

Now, on with the chapter.

A quick recap: single mum, Bella, and her ten year old daughter, Calissa, moved to Seattle from California, to start a new life. Bella became friends with the family of her ex, Edward, who is Calissa's father. Edward and Bella fought over Bella keeping Calissa from him, but the two came to an agreement. Edward was engaged to Tanya, otherwise known as uber-bitch, but they broke up when she referred to Calissa as a STI. Bella and Edward kissed twice and the argued after Edward insisted there was something between them, which Bella refused. Bella decided to stay in California for the summer, which pissed off Edward, and he left and ran into Tanya in a bar when he arrived back in Seattle.

Shall I take a chance on love

When it feels so right?

That I'm safe and warm inside

Take a chance and fall tonight

(Take a Chance by Oliver Newton-John & John Travolta)

Mom, are you gonna knock?" Calissa asked.

We were standing outside of Edward's house, a month after he left California.

A couple of days after everything kicked off between the two of us and he left, the rest of the Cullen's left and headed home to Seattle and, apart from a few seconds of talking to Esme when she called to talk to Calissa and a few texts to Rose and Alice, I hadn't really spoken to any of them.

"Um, yeah," I told her and tapped the large wooden door with the back of my hand.

He answered moments later, looking a gorgeous as I remembered.

"Cali, I have missed you so much," he said as he knelt down and took our daughter into his arms. "Did you have a good summer?"

She nodded. "Mom and grammy took me to Disneyland."

Edward's green eyes flashed to me before he looked back to her and smiled. "That's great. I'm glad you had fun. I've missed you."

"I missed you too, dad."

"So I've put the clothes she needs this weekend in this bag," I told him. "Some things might need washing. Like her pajamas. I'll take the rest home. You're taking her to school Monday and I'll pick her up after school. You're also having her next weekend too so you can either pick her up from school or from mine. Let me know."

"Okay," he said without looking at me.

I sighed. "Okay. I'm gonna go. Bye baby. Be good for your dad. I love you," I told her, and I hugged her tightly.

I began to walk away when I heard Edward say, "Cali, sweetie, why don't you take your bag upstairs." I heard Calissa run inside. "Bella, wait."

I turned around and saw Edward walking up to me.

"What?"

"Thanks for letting me have her this weekend."

"Well, you pretty much demanded it."

He nodded. "I'm sorry about what happened last month. I mean, I'm not sorry for being mad because I don't think it was right for you to just decide that you're staying in California for a whole month without even talking to me. But I'm sorry for some of the things I said."

I nodded. "Thanks. And I'm sorry, too. I wasn't trying to hurt you when I made that decision. I just needed some time to think."

"I know. And did you? Think?" I nodded. "About us?" I sighed and nodded. "What did you decide?"

"I…I don't know, Edward. I don't think we'd work. We tried, twelve years ago, and it ended in heartbreak."

"You're wrong. We didn't try twelve years ago." I frowned. "You were seventeen; I was twenty-three and living two thousand miles away. Were you looking for a relationship that summer? Because I know I wasn't. But it's different now. You're older, I'm older. We already have a beautiful little girl. We're already a family; we're just a broken one. I'm not giving up, Bella. We will be together. You just can't see it right now because you're scared. But I'll wait for you; for as long as it takes."

And with that he walked inside and closed the door.

The day of my twenty-ninth birthday came around a lot quicker than I would have liked. I woke up in the morning to Calissa climbing in my bed.

"Happy birthday, mom."

I smiled and turned to face her. I put my arms around her and squeezed her tightly. "Thank you, baby."

We laid in silence for a while until my alarm went off and it was time to get up and ready for the day, which started out relatively normal. I went down to make breakfast while Calissa was getting ready.

Calissa walked downstairs for breakfast. "Um, sweetie, I think it's getting a bit chilly for that top."

"But mom." I shook my head. "Ugh, I thought you were supposed to be nicer on birthdays."

I nodded. "You're birthday. But this is my birthday; I can be whatever I want on my birthday."

"You can't be Beyoncé."

"I could if I wanted to," I said with attitude, making her laugh.

While she ate, I ran upstairs to change into the outfit I had planned for the day and, when I was done, returned downstairs with my nude heels in my hand.

"Sweetie, have you finished?" I said as I walked into the kitchen. "Go clean your teeth, please. And don't forget to change."

"Okay. You look pretty, mama," she told me as she left the room, making me grin.

She changed into a more appropriate top and even put a cardigan over it and we were on our way. I dropped her off at school and, after a little talk with Rosalie, was on my way to work.

The day flew by and, before I realized, I was on my way to pick Calissa up. When I got to school, Rose was already there.

"Hey, Bells. Have you had a good day?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's not been too bad. I'm just glad work has finished and I can spend the night with my girl," I told her with a smile.

"So what are your plans for your birthday night?"

I shook my head. "Nothing really. Cali and I are gonna order in and watch movies."

"Is that it?"

I nodded. "Yep. Nice and simple. I might let myself enjoy a couple of glasses of wine after she's asleep."

"Wow, don't go too crazy," she told me sarcastically.

The girls ran up to us then and Rose said goodbye before leaving to go get Maisie and Ezra. I hugged Calissa and we walked back to the car. When we got home, we both headed upstairs to get changed. I frowned when Calissa walked into my bedroom and headed towards my closet.

"Um, Cali, what are you doing?"

"Choosing your clothes," she said as she pulled a blue lace dress out.

"Sweetie, I'm not gonna wear that for takeout food."

"Yes you are. Please, mama." She pouted and I related.

"Fine."

"Yay," she squealed, and then she moved onto shoes. She pulled out some nude leather sandals.

"Baby, you know we're just ordering takeout, right? Why do I have to wear heels?"

"Just put them on, mom. You can keep your hair how it is and keep that jewelry on. But take off your watch. And redo your makeup." And with that she walked out and left me to get ready, which I did with a frown.

I was just redoing my makeup when there was a knock on my door and it opened. She was wearing a purple floral dress with nude flats. She had taken her hair out of the French braid I had done for school.

"Mom, can you do my makeup?"

I frowned again. "Why are you wearing makeup?"

"Because I want to. Can you please?" she asked.

"Fine but you need to stop with this attitude," I said, making her roll her eyes. I sat her in front of me and did her mascara and lip gloss. "There. You look beautiful, baby."

"Thanks, mom. You too."

"Thank you. Do you mind telling me why we look so beautiful?"

"Well, grammy would say it's because we're Swan women."

I laughed loudly, throwing my head back and clapping. "Oh, baby, I love you," I told her, wiping my eyes and checking in the mirror to make sure I didn't ruin my makeup. There was a knock at the front door and I looked in that direction with a frown. "Were we expecting company?"

"I was," Cali said with a grin. "Go answer the door, mama."

With a frown, I walked out of my room and down the stairs with Calissa hot on my heels. I opened the door and saw Edward standing there holding two bouquets of flowers.

"Good evening. Happy birthday, Bella," he said with a smile and he handed me one of the bouquets.

"Um, what are you doing here?" I asked as he handed the other bouquet to Calissa, who was grinning widely.

"Well, I spoke to Cali and she said that you were planning on staying in and eating takeout and I thought that was no way to celebrate something as important as your birthday."

"It's just my birthday, Edward. Takeout and PJ's would have been fine."

"Just your birthday? You're birthday is important, Bella. It's so important it should be a national holiday."

I rolled my eyes. "That was cheesy."

"Made ya smile, though," he told me. I couldn't deny; I had smiled. "Anyway, are you girls ready?"

"For what?" I asked as Calissa handed my purse to me and grabbed the keys.

"We're ready, daddy. Let's go, mommy," she said, pushing me out of the door.

We walked down the steps and Edward helped us both into his car. He climbed into the driver's seat beside me and, with one last smile, we were on our way.

Less than a half hour later, we pulled up outside an Italian restaurant. We got out and the valet parked the car while we made our way inside. Edward gave his name – apparently he made a reservation – and we were led to a table in the back.

Dinner was nice and, just before we had dessert, Edward and Calissa decided it was present time.

"Oh, Cali, I love it," I told her after opening the bracelet that her and my grams had picked up in California. She helped me put it on my wrist before Edward handed me present. I opened it and saw a pair of silver earrings. "They're beautiful, thank you," I told him and he grinned.

"Open my next one, mommy." I opened it and saw a picture of Edward, Cali and I on the beach in California in a silver frame. "Nana took it. I chose the frame."

I smiled. "Thank you, baby. I love it. I'll put it beside my bed."

"Okay, one more from me," Edward said, and he handed me another present that also felt like a picture.

I opened it and found myself looking at another picture of Edward and me, although this time I was twelve years younger.

I opened my mouth to talk, but I couldn't. I shook my head. "Wha…wher…?"

"I found it a few weeks ago. Do you remember where this was taken?"

I nodded. "San Francisco. I was showing you around and we stopped for lunch on pier thirty-nine. After lunch we leant against the rails on the pier and you asked an old couple to talk our picture."

"That was a great day."

I nodded again. "Thank you, Edward."

After dessert we made our way back home. Edward walked us to the door and waited for me to open it before taking Calissa into his arms.

"Thank you for helping me plan today, baby girl. Now, why don't you go and get ready for bed. You've got school tomorrow."

"Okay, daddy. I love you."

"Love you too, Cali girl." She ran upstairs and he stood up and smiled at me. "Did you have fun tonight?"

I nodded. "I did. Thank you."

"Don't mention it. I told you I wasn't giving up, and I meant it."

"Edward…"

"No, Bella. I want you. I've always wanted you. From the first time I laid eyes on you, in your little shorts, dancing around with no care in the world, even though the band was awful." I smiled and he stepped forward, closer to me. "I've been thinking about you for twelve years. Wondering what you've been up to, wondering if I'd ever see you again. And it turns out you've been raising my baby girl. This was fate, Cali Girl; you can't deny that."

He stopped talking and waited silently for my response. My thoughts were swirling around in my head. Part of me – a big part of me – wanted him. I know I did. I always had. I had been thinking about him too. Every time I looked at Calissa, he was in my mind.

But I was scared.

But as I stared at him, I thought about my parents. They were taken away so young. They hadn't gotten to do everything they had wanted to. If their deaths taught me anything, it was that you couldn't live with regrets. If I tried with Edward, and we failed, I would be heartbroken. But would I regret it more if I didn't even try?

I looked at him, his skin still slightly tan from the summer in California. His green eyes sparkled with vulnerability. His bronze hair rustling in the slight Seattle breeze. As I stared in his eyes – eyes that had captured me all those years ago – I knew I couldn't live with that regret.

I leaned forward and captured my lips with his. He returned the kiss before pulling away.

"Does this mean you're willing to give us a go?"

I nodded. "Just don't make me regret it," I told him. He grinned before leaning in and capturing my lips again.

EPOV

To say life was good after Bella's birthday would be an understatement.

Bella, Cali and I were like a proper happy family. We had a weekly family dinner and game night so that Cali could spend time with us both. And then once Cali was in bed, be it at my house or Bella's, Bella and I would snuggle on the couch, or make out. We hadn't gone further than that, seen as it had been twelve year's since Bella had…been with a man…I was taking it slow.

Things certainly sped up on Halloween though.

Calissa was super excited for Bella and me to be taking her trick-or-treating and decided we needed a family costume. Calissa decided she wanted to be Alice in Wonderland so Bella and I dressed up as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter.

We walked around Bella' neighborhood for hours, going to different houses so that Cali could get candy, most of which she wouldn't eat. Once we had returned from our outing, Bella helped Cali wipe her makeup off and we both tucked her into bed before returning downstairs. We sat down on the couch with some beers and watched an old horror that was showing on TV.

Barely halfway through Bella was practically on my lap with her face buried in my neck.

"Bella, baby, do you wanna turn it off?" I asked, laughing, after she had screamed for the fifth time.

"No, no, it's fine. I'm fine," she said, squirming on my lap.

"Well, I'm not. Babe, you're gonna have to stop moving," I told her, and I put my hands on her hips, keeping her still.

"Why? Oh, that's why," she said and smile appeared on her face. "You know, now that I think about it, I can think of better things to do than watching this silly old movie."

"Oh really?" I asked and she bit her lip while nodded.

I leaned forward and tried to capture her lips with him but she moved off of me and stood up. She walked away and gave once last look over her shoulder before taking off upstairs. You better believe I was barely a second behind her.

"Are you coming for dinner?" Bella asked me. I had just gotten home from work and was getting ready to head to Bella's. "Cali's out with Em and Rose so we'll have the house to ourselves for a few hours."

I grinned. "Can't wait, baby," I said as there was a knock at the door. "I'll be over soon, okay." We said goodbye and hung up.

I put the phone down and walked to the door. When I opened it, I saw Tanya standing there, tears in her eyes, looking nervous.

It was in that moment that I everything was going to change.

Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I will be posting another one very soon. I managed to complete the whole story a few weeks ago so, as long as life doesn't get in the way, there should be no delay.

Lastly, you may have noticed that I changed my name. Although I still love Twilight and Bella/Edward, the new loves in my life are Olicity (Oliver and Felicity) from Arrow, so I'm not synrOLICITY :) anyone else love Arrow? Let me know.

Thanks for reading.