A/N: Hello! Talk about hitting a road block...my creative juices have all but quit flowing for this one. This chapter was horrible to write. Leaving on vacation tomorrow so I felt like I had to get something out tonight since it's been so long between posts and I knew I wouldn't be able to write or post for the rest of the week or weekend. I'm sure the fact that I put a deadline on myself is why I had trouble writing it and I'm hoping that after vacation my mind won't be so frazzled from life and I'll get back into the swing of things and get this story wrapped up. We're getting close now which is sad. But if you know me (and if you've been following me from my first story I'm sure you do), I already have another idea. I'm really excited about it too. I haven't read anything like it on this site before so I'm hoping to make it one for the record books. Of course, I will not be revealing anything about the next story until the end of this one. Just like to tease you all! :-)

Don't hate me too much on this one. It's shorter than my others and if I'm being honest - I don't feel like it's good enough, but I needed it here to lead into the next couple. Be kind. LOVE!

Chapter 21

EPOV

As much as I love my daughter, I can confidently say I really kind of dislike her right now. Honestly, I was hoping Bella would say no to the invitation to attend Lilly's school's program.

Not because I don't want her there, but I just don't know if it's the right thing to do so early in our very new and not exactly concrete relationship.

This little show the school was putting on is for the parents of the students. Bella is not a parent and it worries me that Lilly has taken it upon herself to invite Bella to this.

I know we've just discussed this briefly but I'm still not sure about it. I know I told Bella not to worry about Lilly's motives or mind set, but the more I think about it the more I worry about it – which I know is ridiculous.

I also can't shake the feeling that Bella is fibbing to me about being comfortable on going. I know what she said to me, but did she only say because she knew it's something Lilly really wanted?

I don't want her to feel pushed into something she's not truly comfortable with.

But she's a big girl and if she doesn't want to do something she's not going to do it, no matter who wants her to…

Or would she? She adores Lilly and you can tell just by looking at how Bella interacts with her that she would do anything for her or to keep her from hurting.

Like a mother should…

"Is she asleep?" Bella asked as she cuddled up next to me on my couch.

"Yeah she's out like a light. Eyes closed as soon as her head hit the pillow." I grinned as I put my arm around her.

"One good thing about spending time with Alice and Rose at the mall…definitely sleep soundly that night."

"That is so very true." I smiled relishing in the comfortableness of our current seating arrangement.

But I knew I needed to ask her how she truly felt. Now that we were officially alone for the first time all day, I needed her to tell me exactly how she feels about going.

"Bella…" I began before she cut me off.

"Edward, I know what you're going to ask. I don't know how many times I can tell you this, but I really want to go to her program next week. She seems really excited about me going and I don't want to let her down. Plus I think it'll be really fun."

Okay so she admits she's going partially because Lilly wants her to go and she doesn't want to hurt…but what about the whole situation it will throw us into? Has she even thought about that?

"Right but about it being for the parents of the students…is that going to make you feel weird being there?"

"Not even a little bit. I can almost bet you I will not be the only girlfriend in attendance."

"Are you sure? I really don't want you to feel uncomfortable…"

"Quit worrying. If I thought it would be awkward of any reason, I wouldn't go. I promise I don't feel pressured about attending and I promise it doesn't make me feel uncomfortable." She smiled and kissed me – hard.

"Well I can't argue with that." I smiled back.

"Hmmm…I am worried about something though…"

"Shit…"

"No it's nothing bad…I know you said not to read too much into why Lilly wants me there so bad but I can't help it."

"Me too and I'm the one that told you not to read too much into it. I don't want to say anything to her and then get her mind thinking that way. I believe maybe we should wait and see where this goes with her and if she does anything else." I said then tightened my grip around her.

"Maybe you're right." She said through a yawn.

"You need to sleep." I stated then began to pick her up and carry her upstairs. I was a little surprised when she didn't argue with it, but I sure as shit wasn't going to say anything.

Monday morning at work was slow for me and allowed for thinking and that's never a good thing.

After getting everything reassured with Bella, another worry entered my mind and this one I couldn't shake for anything.

Tanya.

She had said she was going to give up her parental rights, but as of today she had not returned the signed papers back to my lawyer yet.

I was dealing with a major case of "bad feelings." I just had that gut instinct that something was going to happen soon and I knew it would involve Tanya and/or her mother

Ah yes…Midge. She was being very insistent, that even though her daughter was obviously a horrible person, that as Lilly's grandmother she wanted to still be able to see Lilly.

I couldn't deny her that even though I really wanted to, so I promised her that she would still be able to see Lilly. This made Lilly happy – very happy. It made me a nervous wreck.

Since Midge wanted to see her granddaughter, Lilly had told her about the show her school was putting on for the parents.

Did Midge tell Tanya?

Would Tanya show up at the show? Would she do such a thing?

Of course she would…she's a bitch.

Okay, so she could do it, if she didn't value her life at all. I know I still have more than a few choice words for her and something tells me that, when it comes to Tanya, Bella hasn't even scratched the surface of her feelings towards my ex-wife.

Bella could slaughter her with just words…

God that would be hot…and now I'm not going to be able to concentrate the rest of the day.

"Excuse me, Doctor Cullen?" Angela said as she poked her head into my office.

"Yeah Angie?"

"Sorry to interrupt you, but you have a visitor in the lobby?"

"But I don't have any patients until later this afternoon?" I asked confused.

"No sir. It's not a patient. She said it was urgent though."

"Who is it?"

"She refused to give me a name, but she's tall, blonde, a real bitch…"

"Fuck…oh sorry Angie." I apologized for my language but only earned a chuckled form her. "Can you show her back here to my office?"

"Of course…may I ask…"

"I believe you just described my ex-wife. Oh and Angie if at all possible, can we try to make sure Bella doesn't see that Tanya is here? I really don't want to bail my girlfriend out of jail today." I laughed.

"I'll try Edward." Angela smiled before she ducked back out of my office.

So my gut wasn't too far off…a little off on timing but still Tanya has decided to show her face.

Now I have to figure out why Tanya is here at the office and what the hell she wants from me. I had hoped that I'd never have to see her again and all communications would go through our lawyers.

Maybe though, if she's here today then she won't show on Wednesday night.

That would be a huge relief.

"Hello Edward."

How did I ever live with the sound of her voice? It's worse than nails on a chalkboard.

"Tanya." I said curtly not standing up from my chair or offering her a seat across from me. She took it anyways.

"I have something I believe you want." She said fanning herself with a giant manila envelope.

"For your sake those better be signed custody papers."

"They aren't signed…" She said then paused long enough to make me think she was done with her sentence which also gave me time to have an emotional breakdown. "…yet." She finally added on.

Now I was just madder than hell.

"What do you mean 'yet'?" I asked narrowing my eyes and standing up leaning against my desk gripping the edge to keep myself from strangling her.

"I talked with my lawyer and with his expert advice, I've decided I have a few demands before I sign these papers."

"Demands? Like what?" I asked still mad but a little more nervous.

"Hmm…well first off I'd like to request a form of monetary compensation."

"You want fucking money!" I yelled. "You want money to stay out of my daughter's life!"

"If you want to look at it that way…sure. I also want…"

"You'll need the number to the local mortuary if anything else comes out of you mouth."

Well I suppose having Bella tell Tanya off here is better than in the middle of the gym at Lilly's school.

"Sorry to interrupt, but when I asked Angela who you were in a meeting with and she looked everywhere but at me, I figured the whore was here." Bella said then smiled sweetly at me.

"Who are you calling a whore?" Tanya screeched.

"Ladies…please…" I said trying to defuse the situation. As much as I wanted to tell Tanya to fuck off, I knew Bella would and seeing how we were currently in our place of business, I wasn't so sure it was appropriate.

I knew the attempt would be in vain…but hey.

"Shut up Edward." Tanya said to me then glared back at Bella.

"I really don't know what you're about to say but you probably better not. I want to remind you everything I've been witness to since Edward stumbled back into my life. You were too busy with your boyfriend to watch Lilly and she ended up in the hospital. Against prior court orders you went off on tour and left your daughter with Edward to care for. You all but disappeared during this time without so much as a phone call. You reappear after months of being M.I.A. only to reveal that you're now married to said boyfriend. And then have the audacity to demand you see your daughter but that was before you basically said she was a mistake that you wanted nothing to do with. Your husband is a drug addict…"

"You don't have proof of that…"

"Don't I?" Bella asked in defiance raising an eyebrow at Tanya. "Edward's not going to agree to monetary compensation or whatever else you were going to try and bargain with. Go ahead and refuse to sign the papers. We'll see you in court when Edward sues you full non-visitation custodial rights."

"I'll do it Tanya. My lawyer is only a phone call away." I threw in there because even though I truly thought Bella never looked sexier, I felt kind of worthless letting my girlfriend fight my fight with my ex-wife. "I will not pay for you to stay out of Lilly's life, but I will pay my lawyer to keep you out of it."

Tanya pulled the papers from the envelope and signed them and I thought she was going to leave without any other words.

That was stupid of me to think that.

"You'll never be her mother." Tanya hissed at Bella.

"I'll never try to be her mother, but I can promise you that whatever I end up being to Lilly, I'll be better at it than you could ever hope to be a mother to her." Bella retorted as she opened the door and motioned towards it.

"You know, he'll just get what he wants from you and move on. I'm not stupid, if it wasn't for Lilly he would have left me years before we actually split. He's a player Isabella…always will be. You're not woman enough to change him…I wasn't so what makes you think you are?" She said then chuckled.

I could tell just by looking at Bella's eyes, that even though her facial expression gave away nothing, hurt and self-doubt were abundant.

Say something Cullen…damn-it…

"Tanya…you weren't woman enough because Bella's always be the one for me. You're right, if it wasn't for Lilly I would never had married you. I can promise that. I can also promise that nothing she can ever do will ever make me leave her. One other thing I can promise you…as of the second you walk out of that door, you will never see me or my daughter ever again." I said then slammed the door in her face.

"I know you've said it before, but it's the first time you've said it to someone else. Did you mean that?" Bella asked me wide eyed.

"Of course I meant it. I've told you. I love you, whether you're there or not, and I plan on spending the rest of my life with you. You're it for me." I said then kissed her forehead. "Oh and Bella, one other thing…I have told others that, just not in front of you."

"The boys?"

"Actually the girls." I laughed. "Are you okay?"

"Of course? Why wouldn't I be?" She asked.

"I know you better than you think. I know exactly what emotions ran through you when she spouted that bullshit…and you knew it was bullshit but you believed it for just a split second."

"I'm sorry." She sighed.

"Don't be sorry, just tell me what I need to do to make you never doubt yourself or my feelings for you."

"You're doing it. I promise. It's just me and my issues but even just in this past week…I think I've got it handled…" She said as she wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned up on her tip-toes to kiss me.

"I love you." I said as I deepened the kiss.

"Edward I…" She said as she pulled way from me.

"I understand if you still aren't there. I know you care and that's all I need…"

"Why must you always interrupt me?" She smirked. "You totally ruined my moment."

"Uh?"

"Edward, I love you too."