Wow... your response to the last chapter... just amazing. Thank you. Your words move me and how you have fallen for these characters... just amazes me.

Midnight worked her magic on this. Thank God.

I had no idea how much time had passed. The room became quiet, broken only by the sound of soft breaths and gentle stroking hands.

"Edward." Bella's voice was low.

My head snapped up and I looked at her with weary, grateful eyes.

"She's asleep. I'll tuck her in."

I sluggishly stood up, my body wearily groaning in protest.

"I've got her, Edward. Go into the living room and sit down, please."

My voice was tight. "Thank you. For being here for her."

Her eyes looked up at me sadly. "I didn't just do it for her, Edward."

"Can you forgive me?" The words were out before I could stop them.

She sighed and turned back to Emma. "Not now, Edward."

I nodded in defeat. "I deserve for you to hate me," I mumbled to myself.

I walked to the door slowly, with my head down, the exhaustion and emotional toll of the day making itself known.

"Edward?"

I turned. Bella was tucking Emma in, settling the sleeping kitten beside her. I watched as she gently kissed Emma's forehead before turning to look at me, finding my watery eyes.

"I don't hate you."

I managed to make it to the sofa before the tears started.

*()*

I felt Bella's hand under my chin and I raised my face, but didn't open my eyes. I sighed as I felt the cool cloth softly pass over my cheeks and eyes, wiping away the hot tears that had burnt their way down my face. A glass was pressed into my hand. "Drink, Edward."

I smelled the alcohol before the glass reached my nose and I tossed back the contents, shuddering as I swallowed. I opened my eyes to see Bella standing in front of me, watching me, clearly worried.

"She's asleep."

"Thank you."

Leaning down, she placed a key on the coffee table. "Your mom had a copy made for me. I don't feel right keeping it."

I sat up abruptly. "No, Bella, please."

She smiled sadly, ignoring my plea. "Edward, you need to make sure Emma understands she will see me on Monday. And, that I'll have Rags with me. It's very important that she knows neither of us are abandoning her. I thought I had explained that to her so she understood."

"Rags?"

"The kitten. We named him Rags because we found him sleeping on a pile of rags in the barn." She was quiet for a moment. "I will call her in the morning if that's okay and talk to her again. Maybe that would help."

"Leave the kitten."

Stay with me, I begged in my head.

She shook her head. "You have no way of caring for it, Edward." She sighed softly. "I wasn't planning on sending it home with you earlier. It was…" her voice trailed off. "Well, it doesn't matter." She turned to leave and my hand shot out to stop her.

"Bella, please, wait."

She regarded me patiently.

"It does matter. Talk to me. Give me a chance to talk to you. To apologize. I know I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I know I didn't listen to you when you tried to tell me what was happening." I leaned forward, my voice dropping in sorrow. "I said some terrible, hurtful things. I didn't mean them, Bella. I swear. I was angry, tired and stressed." I shook my head. "I acted like a complete asshole."

She shook her head. "And you are still tired, Edward. In fact, you're exhausted. And, we are both so emotionally overwrought right now; it's not a good combination for a serious conversation." She gently pulled her hand away. "I don't think there will be anything left between us if one of us says something else in anger."

I stood up and stepped towards her; my eyes pleading. "Is there anything left now, Bella?"

She sighed. "I don't know, Edward. Even when said in anger, people tend to speak things they are already thinking."

Closing my eyes, I shook my head. "I have so much I want to say to you, Bella. Do you think you could find it in yourself to be a better person than I am and listen, please?" I waited and when she didn't respond, I spoke again. "I was an asshole." I snorted. "Worse. A cruel, thoughtless bastard. I said something totally ludicrous and stupid. You are not just her caregiver. What you are doesn't even have a description. What you mean… to both of us…I can't even describe adequately." My voice caught. "She cried, Bella. She spoke your name. It was you she wanted. After months of silence the first word she said was your name. Do you understand how huge that is?"

She nodded and a tear ran down her cheek. "I do, Edward. And I will be there for her. I will."

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. "But not for me? I've fucked this up so badly that you can't forgive me?"

"You hurt me… so much," she whispered brokenly. "There wasn't anything else you could have said to me that would hurt that badly."

"I know. And I regret it…deeply." I stepped forward. "I didn't mean it, Bella. I swear I didn't. It was thoughtless and cruel and it wasn't me. That's not who I am. I fucked up. I know I did. You have no idea how much I regret those words."

"I want to believe that," she whispered.

Closing the distance between us, I wrapped my arms around her stiff body. "You can. Give me another chance. Please."

She allowed me to hold her briefly before she stepped back. I released her regretfully and stood back, swaying slightly.

"Did you eat?" she asked quietly.

I shrugged. "Not really." I looked at her. "Did you?"

"I had lunch. Didn't you eat today at all?"

I shrugged my shoulders again sheepishly. "No. I've been spoiled all week with lunches by a special girl, but today, because she wasn't around, I just forgot."

She shook her head. I felt her push against my chest and I sat down heavily on the couch. She turned and walked away. "Bella?"

"I wanted you to sit down before you fall down, Edward. I'll be right back."

The light snapped on in the kitchen. Leaning my head back, I allowed my eyes to shut as I listened to Bella moving around in the next room. My eyes ached and I just needed to rest them for a moment.

Just for a moment.

*()*

I sat up startled and disoriented. My eyes looked around the darkened room. A small lamp was burning in the corner, but it was late into the night and the rest of the house was dark and silent. I looked down at the blanket that was covering me. How did that get there? The last thing I remembered was Bella going into the kitchen to make me something to eat.

Bella.

Emma.

I stood up painfully, my body protesting at the strange angle I had been sleeping in. I quickly made my way down the hall ignoring the stiffness. Obviously I had fallen asleep and Bella had left; I had no idea if Emma was still asleep and if she was okay. Emma's door was open, the soft glow from her nightlight spilling out into the hall. Reaching her doorway I stopped, my heart filled suddenly with the sweetness of the picture in front of me. Emma curled into a tiny ball, wrapped in the protective embrace of Bella who was asleep beside her on the far side of the double bed. Emma's little head was nestled peacefully on Bella's chest and stretched across them was Rags the kitten, who looked at me, blinking, before stretching and curling back up, burying his head back into the warmth of his two cozy bedmates.

She had stayed. Bella had stayed.

I quietly moved forward and drew a warm blanket up around my girls. I hesitated, then sat down on the bed and looked at them before leaning forward, softly stroking Emma's curls, marvelling at her sweetness. My beautiful Babygirl. Slowly, I lay down behind Emma and reached over, my hand settling on Bella's head and I gently caressed her in a silent, unknown, thank you. I watched her sleeping, my daughter safely held in her arms and I prayed for another chance. I hoped that when the morning came, she would let me apologize again and stay with me. With us.

My eyes were once again growing heavy and I moved my arm down, encasing Bella's hand in mine. Now we both had Emma. I could feel myself drifting back into sleep as I listened to their deep even breathing. I felt Bella's hand flex and slowly grip my hand before relaxing again.

Contentment curled around my heart. Just for the briefest moment, everything was okay.

And I slept.

And now you have to wait to the weekend... be good.