A/N: OMG! How long has it been since I last updated? Well, let me fill you in on a few things that happened. First, I had finished the chapter before I left for college on my desktop computer at home. I thought I had saved it on my flashdrive, but I didn't, so when I got to college, I put my flashdrive into my laptop and saw that it wasn't there, so I had to start all over again! Then, I was halfway done with this chapter, while I was in the library. I saved it, and the next day I came back to see that I did not save it on my flashdrive like I thought, and I lost the story again, so I had to start over again! Add in trying to write and juggle college, and you'll get why it's taken so long, but I'm so excited for this!

To remind you of what happened in the previous chapter, Rosalie had come over Alice and Jasper's house, albeit relunctantly. It was going well, until Jasper blew up on Rosalie, causing her to leave in tears. This chapter picks up from where Alice yells, while Bella leaves to go after Rosalie. Enjoy, and pics are on my homepage!

APOV

Wake Up Call

"WHAT THE HELL, JASPER?" I yelled as I watched Rose run out of our house, with Bella following.

"You can't be serious, right now, you just can't be." Jasper said as he paced back and forth in front of me, running his hands through his hair viciously. I shrank back from the wild look Jasper had in his eyes as he gazed down at me. "How can you sit there in a wheelchair, crippled, and lie to her face! This is their entire fault!" he spat.

"Excuse me, Jasper, if I don't hold onto the petty grudge…"

"It's not petty!" he yelled and grabbed onto my shoulders tightly while shaking me frantically, "Why can't you see that?" His grip tightened painfully.

"Jazz, you're hurting me." I whimpered.

"You have to see it! You could have died, and by the grace of God, you are sitting here. But, for the life of me, I can't figure out why you forgave those…those…"

"Jasper, stop!" I cried out as his nails began to dig into my skin. His eyes weren't my husband's, but of a madman, who is riddled with guilt, insomnia, and pain.

Edward rushed in and grabbed a hold of Jasper around the neck, yanking him off me, but in the process, scratching my shoulders, since Jazz never loosened his grip. I swallowed the lump in my throat and watched through watery eyes as my brother-in-law dragged my crazed husband out of the kitchen.

Looking at my shoulders, I saw four short, red lines, two of which were bleeding. My chin wobbled from my suppressed cry as I wheeled myself over to the paper towels and dabbed away the blood. I could hear gasps and a frustrated cry fill the quiet kitchen, but couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from until Edward rushed in and gathered me in is arms. Only then did I realize that it was I who was crying frantically.

"Shh, Alice, it's okay. Everything's going to be okay!"

"No!" I gasped in between my sobs. Everything was not going to be okay. Nothing is ever going to be the same.

"Yes, sweetie, now breathe for me." Edward took my face in his hands and began to breathe deeply, coaxing me to imitate him. "Good girl…that's it." He cooed.

"Awntie?" Melody said as she toddled into the kitchen.

"Sweetie, go play with your toys in the living room with Uncle Jasper, okay?" Edward said softly before turning back to me when the little two year old left.

I had finally calmed down some. My breath was still hitching, but at least my form wasn't shaking anymore with the sobs that made my ribs hurt a little.

"Are…"

"Ali!" Bella's voice called, alarmed, as she rushed back into the kitchen to see that my face, which was probably red and puffy from crying, was still in Edward's hands.

"She's fine now, just had a little moment back there." Edward smiled kindly, though I could still see the concern in his eyes.

"It wasn't a little moment." I whispered as I shook my face free and ran a shaky hand through my hair.

"Ali, what's wrong?" Bella pushed.

I sighed and shook my head, "Is it…is it so bad to just want everything to back to the way it was? To wish that everything that happened in Colorado never happened and that we were the close family that we used to be?" I choked out.

"We're still…"

"WE'RE NOT CLOSE!" I yelled, interrupting my cousin, who now wore a surprised look on her face from my outburst. "Don't say it, because it's not true. Jasper hates Emmett and Rosalie, our marriages are falling apart at the seams…don't give me that look, Bella, you're and Edward's marriage isn't back to normal…far from it actually! When was the last time you two had sex!" She looked down at that as Edward looked the other way. I sighed and rubbed my forehead, "This isn't how our lives are supposed to be, it isn't…I don't…how can we…we'll never be the same again." I finally finished and closed my eyes.

It was silent for a while before Bella spoke up.

"No, it will never be the same. But Ali, did you ever think that at the end of this…when everything is resolved and we've worked everything out, did you ever think that maybe we'll be closer in the end?"

My eyes snapped to her face and I searched hers for sincerity. To see if what she said was something she believed herself. Her eyes never wavered and only shown genuineness. I threw my arms around her neck and squeezed, making sure not to choke her.

"Thank you!" I whimpered and pressed my face into her neck as she smoothed my hair down.

"Anytime."

"Am I interrupting something?" I looked up to see Rosalie standing in front of us, fidgeting. I didn't say one word, only threw out an arm to welcome her into our hug. She accepted the embrace, kneeling before me as she placed her face in my hair. I don't know how long we sat there hugging, though Bella excused herself to take a phone call, but a throat clearing broke our embrace.

There stood two people I haven't seen in a while, Emmett and Jacob.

"Well, well, well, look at you, pixie sticks!" the big Indian laughed as he came and hugged me, "In all honesty, I thought if you ever ended up in a wheelchair it would be because of a freak high heel accident, one where you slipped on one of your gem things and fell down the stairs!" I joined in with his laughter and hugged the behemoth of a man, ignoring Emmett's frown at Jake's choice of humor.

"Jake, it's been too long." I sighed as I looked at one of my good friends. He was Emmett's best guy friend, shadowing him wherever he went, but he still treated the rest of us with respect, and over time, he became like family.

He chuckled, "It has hasn't it?"

"Yeah, but you're not supposed to be back until next week." I narrowed my eyes, already knowing why he came back early.

He shrunk back from my glare and cleared his throat, "Well, my favorite pixie is hurt and I had to come back to make sure she was okay."

Sighing, I smiled apologetically and threw my arms open once more for another hug. He gave Rosalie a hug as well. I looked over to Emmett when we pulled away from our embrace. My heart broke as I watched Emmett's internal battle show across his face. Self-loathing, sorrow, pain, guilt…the big bear that I once knew was so lost right now, and I had no idea how to find him again.

"Emmett." I whispered, my voice lost in my inner turmoil. I was no longer concerned with myself, my bones could be fixed, but having to fix a broken man was another thing entirely.

"Please." I coaxed him forward with my hand, but he shook his head.

"I've hurt you enough, I think…I think I'll stand here." His deep voice, the one that was always filled with laughter and joy, could only be described as dead…lifeless.

The kitchen was filled with a deafening silence, only interrupted by the peal of giggles from the precious two year old in the living room.

"Hey, anyone want p…Jake!" Bella squealed when she caught sight of the Native American sitting at the kitchen isle. I assumed she was done with her work phone call from fifteen minutes ago, where she excused herself to talk to Victoria.

"Bells!" he yelled a little too exuberantly, probably caused by the tension in the kitchen. They hugged each other tightly, going through the same introduction that Jake and I went through sans his joke.

"Lucky for you, I was about to order pizza." She smirked knowingly. Jacob could go through two boxes of pizza by himself. A disgusting site for all of us who have watched him do this many times before, but probably would have been an astonishing spectacle for anyone else.

"No kidding, but um…I was wondering, because I know that my math can be off sometimes, but this is impossible. I have been gone for almost a month, but that little girl in there looks to be maybe two or three years old…she couldn't possibly be one of yours…right?"

All of us burst out laughing while Bella called for Edward to bring their daughter in here. Jasper, looking slightly disheveled, but no longer mad, came in after him. He greeted Jacob with a warm handshake. I could tell he was ashamed of his behavior as he kept his distance away from me, opting for standing by the kitchen isle.

As soon as Melody caught sight of someone new she tucked her rosy baby face into the crook of Edward's neck.

"Jake, this is Melody. Edward and I adopted her." Bella smiled as she rubbed Melody's back. It had only been two weeks, since Melody joined our family, but she was a perfect addition. "Melody?" she waited until Mel was facing her, "Hey, sweet girl, someone wants to meet you. He's big, like a giant, so you can climb him and play horsey!"

The precious girl turned to look at Jacob, who gasped, entranced by the sight of her big, doe, blue eyes that melted you heart.

"Hey, Melody." Jake said softly, giving the girl a big smile. Me blushed and waved, resting her head on Edward's shoulder as she looked Jake over. He held out his hands, "Can I hold you?"

Without a word Mel held out her arms, sighing as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "You weawy a giant?" her little voice asked.

Jake threw a glare at Bella who hid behind Edward, unable to suppress laughter, though the rest of us weren't doing much better.

"If you want me to be."

Melody tilted her little head, "And a horesy?" Jake hummed and nodded his head. "Otay, you pway dollies wit me, pwease?" she jutted her bottom lip out as her eyes widened, giving the most adorable puppy dog face that would make a serial killer melt. As expected, Jake couldn't resist her deadly face, and they were off to the living room.

Again the room was thrown into silence as the rest of us stood around awkwardly. At this point in time, I really wished that the rest of my family was here, but they were all out doing their own thing.

"Well, I'll order the pizza and call every else." Bella said warily, high tailing it out of the kitchen like a bat out of hell.

"I, uh, have to go and, uh, call the hospital…you know, um, check up on some patients!" Edward said, finishing with a big smile for completing his lie before following his wife's lead.

Rose cleared her throat, "I'm going to go and play with Melody."

I gave a pointed look to Jasper who, albeit reluctantly, left the kitchen, claiming that he had to go look over some of his patient's files.

That only left Emmett and I in the kitchen, just the way I wanted it.

"Em, come sit with me." I said, pointing to a chair at the dining room table.

"I think I should…"

"Sit!" I all but yelled and pointed to a chair that was in front of me. Emmett immediately sat down, but refused to look at me as I stared at the side of his head.

"I don't blame you for anything." I whispered. I watched as Emmett clenched his hands that were resting on top of the table into fists. His eyes were closed tightly, but I could still see the tears forming as they gathered at the corners.

"You should." His voice croaked, "You should blame me. I blame me!"

"I don't know why…I forgave you a long time ago." I sighed.

Emmett sucked in a deep breath before turning to face me. His watery blue eyes gazed at me while they traveled down to look at my wheel chair.

"I put you in that chair." He exhaled loudly, "I hit you with my truck, I sent you to the hospital, I caused you to be in a coma, and I took away your ability to walk!" he said, his voice gradually getting louder, "Why can't you see that everything is my fault? Why don't you hate me?" he yelled.

I was starting to get mad, "What do you want me to do, Emmett? Yell? Scream? Tell you that I hate you and to never come near me again?" I yelled back.

"YES! GOD, YES! DO IT ALL, HIT ME, PUNCH ME, CASTRATE ME, BUT DON'T SIT THERE AND TELL ME THAT YOU FORGIVE ME!" He screamed and shot up from his chair, causing it to fall and make a resonating 'smack' sound that sent everyone running back into the kitchen, but I ignored them.

"I'm not going to do anything of those things, Em, I love you too much for that." I said, my voice deadly calm as I looked at my brother-in-law.

Tears cascaded madly down his cheeks as he shook his head and turned away from me. I watched in horror as he repeatedly punched the wall, a loud cracking sound that could only be his knuckles filled the air, but it didn't stop him. Every time his knuckles pulled back to punch the wall again, I could see more and more blood gathering in the fists sized, cracked dent in the plaster.

My eyes began to water as Emmett stopped, his punches gradually getting softer and softer until they stayed pressed, completely still, against my now damaged wall. His shaking shoulders and loud sobs filled the silence in the kitchen. He slowly crumbled to the floor as his knees gave out, dragging his bloody knuckles along the wall, causing a streak, but I could care less about the paint. All I cared about was my teddy bear of brother kneeling on the floor with his forehead pressed against the wall, his shaking shoulders only seemed to tremor more as time waned on.

"Em…" Rose whimpered.

"Shh." He managed to get through, though his cries never ceased.

For what seemed like hours, but I knew it was only minutes, Emmett stayed on the floor and cried. He slowly began to calm down to the point where his breath would hitch and silent tears cascaded down his cheeks, but his sobs had ceased.

"While you were in a coma…" he croaked, "I walked to the Brooklyn Bridge and I just stood there looking at the water." His breath hitched, "I saw you in my mind, laying there in the hospital bed. You were pale…bruised…broken. I looked at the water below the bridge. I watched the waves ripple, and I thought, if I jumped and died, then that would be my penance for killing you…that I would die with you and use the rest of eternity trying to win back your forgiveness." Everyone gasped in horror at his admittance, "But then I thought that that wouldn't be enough…that I should stay alive and suffer with the knowledge that I killed my sister. I thought that death would be too sweet a resolution, so I walked away and went back to the hospital."

The room remained silent, though I could hear the soft cries of Bella and Rosalie.

"Emmett, if you would have committed suicide, I would never have forgiven you." I finally said. Emmett's head snapped around to look at me, his puffy blood shot eyes only filled with agony at my admission.

"Wha…"

"I would never have forgiven you, because your death would not only break my heart, but the entire family's heart as well, and that's something I could never forgive. I could never forgive someone who hurt my family intentionally." I shook my head.

His head slumped and he turned back around, no longer facing me.

"I don't know what I can do to make you see that I don't, nor have I ever, hate you. Emmy, your my big brother and I love you so much! If anything, this accident only opened my eyes to the fact that life is too damn short to hold onto things that bring you down."

"But it's not fair…"

"Life is not fair, Emmett!" I yelled. I pushed myself out of my wheel chair and onto the floor. The loud thud caused Emmett to turn around and all but crawl to me hastily as I held a hand out to him. He tried to pick me up and put me back into the chair, but I protested, finally getting his full attention. "You know that nothing in life is fair, because if it was, Bella would have never been raped and miscarried, you and Rose wouldn't be fighting all the damn time, and Jasper and I would already have the son that he's always wanted! Life is hard, Emmett, but you really can't appreciate up, until you've been down."

I stayed quiet for a moment, letting this sink into Emmett's brain before continuing.

"What you don't know, Emmett, is that the majority of the reason why I forgave you, wasn't for you, it was for me." I admitted, "I love him to death, but do you see how Jasper is right now? He's so angry, and hurt, yelling, screaming, throwing fits…that's not the Jasper any of us remember, and that's because he hasn't learned to forgive for himself. If you have all this anger in your heart, because of a situation, it can sit inside you and make you become someone else. If you can't forgive someone, then that person takes the power out of you and they keep the power! Right now, the negativity, the anger, the derogatoriness, the pain? All of that can make a person bitter and angry and I refuse to let that happen to me. When I first found out that it was you and Rosalie that hit me, I was angry and a blamed you, but then I saw both of you, and I knew that I couldn't stay mad at you, because none of this was intentional…it was an accident. I felt like shit keeps coming at us left and right, destroying and pulling us apart more and more, and it caused me to realize that me being angry at you two will do no one any good. The accident is over and done with and it's time for us to move on." I took Emmett face in my hands and stared deeply into his blue eyes, "I love you, Emmett, and I forgive you."

Em stared into my eyes, searching for any sign that I was lying. Upon seeing that I was, indeed, telling the truth, he gathered me into his arms and started to cry softly on my shoulder, continuously thanking me. I sat there, rubbing his back, until he calmed down.

I registered in the back of my mind the door bell ringing and the sounds of feet and laughter as the rest of my family entered the house for dinner. I pulled away from Emmett and wiped his eyes, "You might want to go freshen up." I smiled delicately, rejoicing on the inside when Emmett returned it.

He helped me into my chair and left for the bathroom. I wheeled myself into the living room, thankful to hear the innocent laughter of my nieces as they ran around the couches chasing each other. Looking around, the smiles and jubilee warmed my heart. I joined in the conversation my mother was having with my Auntie Renee about Christmas plans. I was laughing at a joke Renee said when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw my husband looking at me, troubled by something that was clearly bothering him.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?" he whispered. He wheeled me back into the kitchen after I nodded, and took a seat in the chair that Emmett had previously sat in.

We sat there in silence for a few moments. I watched Jasper as his eye brows furrowed every now and again, his eyes trained on the table as he was deep in thought. Finally, he turned to me, and I had to hold in my gasp as I looked into his sea green eyes, silently pleading with me. The anger and betrayal had shed away, only leaving the pain and desperation to be seen.

"Will you…will you teach me how to forgive?" he whispered. I choked back a sob and threw my arms around my husband's neck. I was overcome by elation when I thought of my Jasper coming back to me.

BPOV

I was immensely grateful for the joy and laughter the rest of the family brought into the house from today's escapades. I felt as if I was going to suffocate from the admission of Emmett's possible suicide and the pain and anger that rang through him as he beat his fists against the wall.

Edward had sought out Emmett when Alice wheeled herself into the room, so they could go to the hospital to cast his hand, since he had clearly broken his knuckles.

With Edward gone, it gave me a chance to think over Alice's word's about forgiveness. Her words were true and correct, and made me realize that it was time to fully forgive Edward for his words and to be completely honest with each other.

I wanted to know everything that Edward had said or done that had the potential to make or break our marriage, though I knew now that nothing would tear us apart. I was unable to love any other man like I loved Edward and I knew no one would be able to love me the way Edward does.

I knew, deep in my heart, that we were soul mates, and I wanted to wipe the slate clean…to start over. It wasn't Edward's entire fault, it was mine to. In a time when I should have drew Edward closure, I pushed him away, so I wouldn't suck him into the crippling depression that consumed my heart and mind.

But now, it wasn't just Edward and I anymore. It was Edward, Melody, a baby, and I now, and I'd be damned if we continue down this road without correcting our duo family. I knew that what would transpire would change our lives, but wasn't it in our vows? For better or for worse? Well, I was ready to get through the worse, and start with the better.

Edward and Emmett's return a half hour later broke me from my musings, and not five minutes later did the pizzas arrive.

Cristiano and Giovanni grabbed the ten boxes of pizza and brought it into the kitchen after the reassurance from Alice and Jasper that we weren't interrupting anything.

I picked Melody up and sat her on the counter so she could look inside the boxes of pizza.

"What kind of pizza do you want, there's cheese, pepperoni, sausage, pepperoni with pineapple, and supreme." I knew she wouldn't choose supreme, since she could clearly see the vegetables sticking out of the cheese.

"Cheese, pwease." She decided, pointing a little stubby finger that held the pizza pie from Papa Johns.

Grabbing two slices, I cut them into smaller squares before carrying Melody back into the living on my hip, and sitting her down by my nieces with her food.

I knew Edward grabbed me my favorite slices of pizza, Pepperoni with pineapple. Sitting beside him on the couch, I dug into my food, and listened to the conversation buzz around me, until my mother called my name.

"Bella, what should we do for Christmas? I say we sit in central park and gaze at the stars, thanking the cosmos for another great holiday and sing songs to an acoustic guitar. Esme and Giana think that we should go to Rockefeller Center to skate for Christmas Eve." She said.

I thought about it for a while, trying to think of some ideas as the family threw in their two cents here and there about what they should do before an idea popped into my head.

I whispered my thoughts and got an approval from everyone, their excitement at the coming holiday only growing now.

A few hours later, we were collecting the children and getting ready to leave. My brothers decided that they would stay in Giovanni's apartment with their family, instead of crowding my house, while my parents stayed with me and Edward.

Edward picked Melody off the floor, her sleepy body sagging against him as she rested her head on his shoulder. We bid everyone goodbye and drove home with my parents following.

Sleepy 'good nights' were exchanged when we arrived at the house. I decided to bathe Mel in the morning, not wanting to disturb her sleep. I, myself, wasn't able to fall asleep yet until I had my talk with Edward. I was confident about this decision and I wanted to get it over with.

"Hey, you're not asleep yet?" Edward asked as he stepped out of the bathroom, steam from his hot shower flowed out the open door.

"No, I, um…have to talk to you." I said as I watched him slip on his pajama pants. He sat on his side of the bed and turned towards me.

"Okay…"

He watched me warily as I gathered my thoughts together.

"Alice's speech…it had me thinking. We've started a family, and, God be willing, we'll have another little baby on its way, but…we haven't worked on our little family, yet." I said pointing from him to me in indication.

He nodded his head for me to continue.

"I want all of this over and done with between us. There's no way for us to go back to the way we were, but I think that, possibly, we'll become even closer."

"Bella, what are you trying to say?" Edward questioned, knowing that I was rambling now.

"What I'm trying to say is I want to know everything that happened during…those times. Everything you've said or did that could come out later in life and hurt me again…I want to know it all." I confessed. Edward knew I didn't have anything to confess as much as I knew. I barely left our room, let alone the house, and I refused to talk to anyone.

Edward sucked in a breath and closed his eyes. His face scrunched in pain as he shook his head, "I don't think you want to know."

"I do want to know! I want to know, so that I can forgive you and we can move on. Will it be hard, yes, but I've come to the conclusion that what we have is worth working through...together." I begged, "This is the only way we can wipe the slate clean."

I watched as my husband seemed to deflate before my eyes. My heart began to quicken and fear started to creep into my bones. Whatever it was that was making him hesitant was obviously bad, and I started to fear my decision to know everything.

I started to fear it, but I wasn't going to take it back. I wanted this…I wanted us back for once and for all.

"Everything?" he croaked.

"Everything." I scooted forward and took his large hands in mine. His calloused fingers tightened around mine desperately, as if trying to keep me where I am. It was quiet for a while before he began to speak.

"It was…during the time where we were barely speaking to each other. You would hold yourself up in our room and cry or scream and break things." He paused and I nodded my head for him to continue. He sighed, "It was that Tuesday when you broke every lamp in the house and locked yourself in the bathroom, refusing to come out. I got so frustrated that I left and went to the bar downtown to wind down some. I probably downed four shots when this woman," I sucked in a breath, but he kept going as if he didn't hear me, "approached me and asked if I was okay. For no reason, I just started to tell everything…about the miscarriages, about how I was feeling, about not knowing what to do with you. And she just sat there and listened without interrupting…that's what I had been looking for all along. I just wanted someone to know how I felt and talk to me without judging." he said to me desperately, as if pleading his case, "She commented here and there, and would wipe the tears away, and before I knew it, we were kissing."

I felt like my heart dropped from my chest into my stomach.

"Did…did you have sex with her?" I choked out.

"No! When I realized what I was doing, I pulled away and ran out of the bar!"

I could feel my breath quicken, but I kept myself in check. I wanted this…I wanted to know everything that happened…at least he didn't have sex with her.

Jeez, that's a God awful excuse for him. He was wrong, plain and simple! My bitchy side yelled, but I slapped her and told her to shut it.

"Do you remember who she was?" I asked. He had to have a name, right? I remember him being gone for hours, so surely names were exchanged.

"You don't…"

"Edward, just tell me her name." I shook my head. It's not as if I know her or anything.

"Bella, please, trust me." He begged.

"Give me…her name." I annunciated.

He sucked in a large breath and closed his eyes.

…

…

…

…

"Victoria."

I gasped loudly as my entire body froze. God, please tell me he did not just say who I think he just said.

"A different Victoria, right?" I said through clenched teeth. He shook his head, his eyes never meeting mine.

I flew off the bed, grabbing my stomach and head as a strong feeling of nausea overcame me.

"Bella…"

"Victoria! You…you kissed my employee!" I screeched.

"I'm so…"

"Sorry? Yeah, I get that!" I yelled, cutting him off as I tried to keep myself from punching him. Edward began to walk towards me, but I held out a hand, warning him not to come anywhere near me. I needed time to think.

This was…I didn't even except…Ugh!

"I told you, you wouldn't want to know." He plead.

"It doesn't matter what you told me, Edward." I said in a deadly calm voice, "Did you know who she was before you kissed her?"

"…Yes." He whispered.

The room began to spin as I sat on the cushion chair in the corner of the room. All this stress was definitely not good for the baby nor my sanity, because I swear, I'm about ready to take a crowbar to his head repeatedly.

"You knew who she was, yet you still decided to kiss her. Someone I trusted!" As in past tense. When I see her, I'm going to ring her neck, then fire her ass.

He kept quiet, knowing that whatever he said to try and redeem himself would only piss me off more. There was no excuse for what he did. If he was sober enough to know that it was Victoria, then he was sober enough to have talked to her and walk away.

"What now?" he whispered after fifteen minutes of silence.

I chuckled humorlessly and looked at him through narrowed eyes, "Right now, I'm going to go and take a shower before I do something I'll regret later. However, you are going to take your cheating ass into the guest bedroom." I spat before stalking to the bathroom and slamming the door.

I listened for the soft click of the bedroom door closing before I broke down crying.

I took off all my clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away my tears as I sat on the tile bench and cried to my heart's content. The icy water that poured out of the faucet was the only thing that caused me to get out.

I laid in bed as silent tears continued to fall, my body and mind too exhausted to continue the helpless sobs that wracked through. I pulled the covers over my head, wishing that it was a powerful barrier that could block out pain. To my utter disappointment, it did no such thing, and I laid there for the rest of the night thinking about what I could have possibly done in a past life that warranted this much pain and bitter anger.

I had gotten zero sleep during the night as showcased by my bloodshot eyes and bags. I brushed my teeth and washed my face before deciding to cover the purple bags with a thick concealer and foundation, but could do nothing about my eyes, hoping that a hot cup of tea would possibly help some.

I through on some dark wash skinny jeans and a purple blouse before going to wake Melody. My heart stopped when I saw that she wasn't in her bed, but little giggles from downstairs alerted me that my parents had gotten to her before me.

I threw on a black coat and heelless black boots before going downstairs to make my tea for my drive to work.

"Jeez, Bells, you look as bad as Edward. He looked like crap this morning." My father chuckled. I didn't have it in me to join him.

I mustered a small smile as I kissed my parent's cheeks before moving towards my daughter, who was enjoying some dry cereal in her high chair.

"Morning, baby." I whispered and gave her a long kiss on the forehead.

"Mowing, mama." She smiled, popping a cheerio into her mouth and offering me one. I laughed softly and ate it, thankful for her innocence that easily warmed my heart.

I could see in the corner of the kitchen Nahla slumbering in her dog bed.

I listened to Melody tell me about her bunny dream while I poured myself some tea that my mother had already made. I refused to look at my parent's questioning eyes, knowing that if I were to tell them, my father more than my mother, would shoot Edward multiple times.

"Be good for nonna and nonno, okay?" I said kissing Melody one more time before rushing out of the door, wrapping my scarf around my neck and putting on my gloves in the car. It had gotten extremely cold now that it's December, with, thankfully, only slush on the ground, but the weatherman predicts snow in about a week. Great.

I drove to work, thinking about how I would approach Victoria without killing her first. I was unsuccessful, as all my planes were about bludgeoning her to death before I arrived in my business' parking lot.

I walked with a purpose inside, smiling a little to the receptionist, Abigail, before riding the elevator to the second to last floor where all the elite photographer's offices were. The top floor, where I am located along with five other of my employees, was just for the head photographers.

I barged into Victoria's office only to stop short when I saw her fiancé, James, was there with her.

"Oh! Hey, Bella, how are you?" Victoria smiled widely. I ignored her and turned to James.

"I don't think you want to be in here right now, I've got to talk to Victoria." I said through clench teeth. I was absolutely seething and it was taking all the power I had in me not to throw a chair through one of the glass windows and tossing Victoria out after it.

"Um…okay." He said warily, kissing her before creeping past me with a scared expression. Once the door clicked closed, I turned my glare to said slut.

"Um…am I in trouble?" she asked, her voice shaking.

I hummed, "I don't know, what do you think should be the penalty for someone who kisses another woman's husband!" I ended up shouting.

I watched as Victoria's eyes widened, standing quickly to walk towards me.

"Bella…I am so sorry." She said, her eyes filling with tears.

"You're sorry? You're SORRY? WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY STUPID ENOUGH TO KISS YOUR BOSS'S HUSBAND?" I screeched, infuriated at the audacity of this red haired liar.

Tears continued to flow down her face, but I could see a defensive look set in her eyes.

"I didn't mean to kiss, Edward, but he was sitting there, crying his eyes out and spilling his guts! I wasn't thinking, I just…!"

"Oh, you were thinking just fine! You knew who you were kissing, and you knew that you were going to get in a hell of a lot of trouble once shit hit the fan! What? James is not good enough for you, you want to try and take my husband too?"

"It's not even like that! And plus, you're just as much to blame! Edward told me everything, and if it wasn't me he was kissing, he'd have kissed someone else!" I had to hold myself back from punching this bitch in the face.

"Oh, so that's your excuse? That made it right for you to kiss him, because I wasn't there for him at the time. Well, if you know everything, then you'd have already known that I was going through some pretty heavy shit too, and could barely keep myself from ending it all, but instead of the trusted friend I thought you were, who should have listened to him and then sent his ass back to me, you thought it would be a dandy of a time kissing him to make it all better! I thought I could trust you!" I yelled as angry tears poured down my cheeks.

"I CAN TRUST ME!" Victoria shouted.

"NO, I CAN'T, BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED THAT OU WERE MY FRIEND, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TAKEN EDWARD HOME, SLAPPED ME SILLY, AND SET ME STRAIGHT! INSTEAD, YOU PLAYED TONSEL HOCKEY!" I yelled even louder than Victoria had.

All was quiet, the only thing heard was our heavy breathing as we stared each other down. Victoria was the first to break contact, deciding that the floor was more interesting to look at.

I shook my head, "You are a pathetic excuse for a friend and I will never trust you again." I said, turning around and stalking to her door. I threw it open only to stop in my tracks at the sight before me. James' grey blue eyes were red and watery. He wasn't looking at me, but at Victoria.

I gasped, "I'm so sorry, James, if I'd have known you were right there…"

"It's not your fault." He said, walking past me and into the office. I closed the door behind me and walked to the elevator, ignoring all the looks I was getting from the other photographers.

"I'm not paying you to stand around and stare!" I spat, sending them all into a frenzy as they continued to do whatever they were doing.

As soon as I reached my office, I collapsed in my chair and cried. I was confused and angry. Half of me wants to fire Victoria and send her to hell, while the other half of me just wants to demote her and let her keep her job. She had, at least, listened to Edward when I couldn't, but I could never overlook the fact that she kissed him willingly.

Shaking my head, I looked at my appointment book and saw that I had booked Nelly Furtado and Demacio Castellon's wedding for today. I grabbed my camera, collected my two assistants, replacing Victoria with Franco for today, and headed out.

We arrived an hour and a half before the wedding was about to start, so that we could get a feel of the venue. They were having their wedding on the Royal Princess Yacht, so we would be maneuvering around things a lot, but I've been in tighter spaces.

"Um, Mrs. Cullen?" Franco tapped my shoulder. I looked up at the tall Latino as he assembled his camera. He was given the duty to take pictures of the guests, while I would solely deal with the Bride and Groom and Cynthia, my other assistant, would be taking care of the Bridal party.

"You know to call me, Bella, Franco." I said softly.

"Um, okay. Bella, may I ask you a question?" he said, his thick Puerto Rican accent making it slightly difficult to understand him, but I managed.

I hummed, returning my focus on the Venue.

"Why did you chose me for your assistant. Not that I am not grateful, but Victoria…"

"It is most likely that I will switch between you and Justine for the next few days until I figure out what I'm going to do with Victoria." I interrupted him. He was quiet after that, and I started to feel bad for being so rude to him.

I sighed and sat at the table, starting to assemble my camera as well.

"Let me ask you a question, Franco. Would you rather stay with Betsy or come work for me as my assistant?" I did not look at him to see his facial expression. As the boss, I knew every single piece of gossip in my business, including his big crush on his boss, Betsy Meanders, one of my head photographers. "I want you to tell me the truth as well." I finished, giving him a pointed look into his large hazel eyes.

"Um, w-well," he stuttered, "Honestly, I, um, w-would," he cleared his throat.

"You would like to stay with Betsy." I finished for him, not having the patience of a saint I usually had. He nodded his head once before continuing his work.

"Not that I condone inner business relationships, but if you like Betsy as much as I know you do, then ask her out. As I had told you before I hired you, if you get involved with another employee and don't allow it to interfere with your work, I could care less who you shack up with." I admitted before clearing my throat to get him to look at me, "As long as you don't mess up my business, ask her out. Just remember that she is your boss." I winked and grabbed my camera and case, heading to the bridal room.

I could hear the hustle and bustle from outside the door, along with yelling and a little girl crying. I knocked on the door, and jumped back in surprise when it flew open. A disheveled bridesmaid in a red convertible dress answered the door. Her hair was still in curlers and her makeup was slightly smudged.

"You're Bella, right?" I began to nod my head, but was pulled into the room before I could finish. The room was a mess, with clothes thrown all over the floor and chairs. Makeup was on the counter, some open, some spilling its contents into a colorful puddle. The bridesmaids were running around, trying to help zip some girls up, while some were only in their underwear. Other's had their hair still in curlers, while some bridesmaids were squeezing themselves into any space in front of the mirror to take their curlers out. Surprisingly, the only calm person in the room was Nelly, who was having her hair and makeup done by professionals.

I walked over to her, sitting my case under the counter, before turning my camera on. She was still clad in her silk robe as she sat peacefully on a stool.

"Hey, mama, how are you?" I greeted Nelly, kissing both of her cheeks as she did the same to me.

"I'm good, hun, how are you?"

I giggled, "Don't worry about me, Ms. Bride, worry about yourself. Though, you seem very calm." I smiled, focusing my camera some and taking a few shots of her getting her hair and makeup done. I took off my scarf and gloves, sitting them by my case, since I was getting a little warm.

"Oh, don't let me fool you. I'm going crazy on the inside." She laughed, "Ask my sister, right when I woke up, I was crying!"

"What? Why?" I asked. I liked taking pictures of the bride during a conversation, because they were natural, and the more natural the picture, the more beautiful. At least, that's what I believe.

"Because, it's my wedding day! Weren't you nervous?"

"No, sweetie, ask my best friends! They actually handcuffed me to my chair, so I wouldn't try to start the wedding while I was still in my robe, curlers in my hair, and half of my makeup done." I laughed at the memory, "I all but jogged down the aisle!" Nelly joined in with my laughter and I took a few shots of them. With her head thrown back and face in a wide smile, it was definitely a beautiful picture.

I spent the first forty five minutes taking pictures of Nelly as they finished her hair and makeup, then put her in her dress. When her time was over, I headed to the groom's room to take some picture of him getting ready.

I knocked on the door and entered when someone yelled for me to come in.

"Hey, Bella!" Demacio yelled from across the room. I smiled and headed towards him, shaking his hand as he kissed one of my cheeks.

"Hey, Demacio, are you ready?" I asked, lifting my camera. The groom's room was much cleaner and much more calmer. The groomsmen were sitting around laughing and talking, while others finished getting ready. I could see, Felice, the little ring bearer, getting his bow tie done by the best man.

"Too get ready? Yes. To get married? Hell yes!" he laughed and I joined in, taking a few shots as well. Demacio was a handsome man. With his creamy skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, it was no wonder that Nelly fell in love with him.

I made conversation with the groom as well, taking pictures as he put on his shirt and tux, since he had on his pants before I got there. I took pictures of Demacio looking at himself in the mirror with a serious face on as he tied his bow tie. It was definitely one of my favorite pictures.

As the wedding commenced, I took many photos of the bride and groom, from Nelly walking down the aisle to them reciting their vows and kissing when they were pronounced man and wife. Cynthia took pictures of the bridal party, like the groomsmen and bridesmaids as they walked down the aisle. And the flower girl, Nelly's daughter, along with the ring bearer. Franco expertly took pictures of the guests, without them noticing, since a lot of people try to hide when a camera comes near them.

The rest of the night went without a hitch! The reception was amazing, and thankfully, no one kept getting in my way as I took pictures of the bride and groom dancing, sharing cake, throwing the bouquet or any of the other cliché events that commence during a wedding.

I collected the check with a large smile, getting thanks of appreciation from Nelly and Demacio for our flawless job of being photographers. I smiled even wider when she told me that she would recommend me to Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, who wanted to have a photographer for their twin's first birthday party.

I thanked Cynthia and Franco for their amazing job, collecting the cameras, before walking into my office. I stopped short when I saw Victoria sitting in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not even having enough energy to deal with her right now. I had been gone since nine in the morning and now it was ten at night.

"Bella." She whispered as she stood up and looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"If you think crying will do you any good then you have another thing coming." I warned, not wanting to deal with her fake crocodile tear act. I had known Victoria for a while now, along with her tricks she used on her men when they caught her cheating.

Hmm, my how the tables have turned.

"No, I just…I just want to know if I still have a job or am if I need to clean out my office." She said, her eyes on the ground.

I snorted and shook my head. I had been thinking about what to do with her all day, unfortunately. As much as I tried to focus all of my attention on the wedding, this situation was always in the back of my mind, nagging me to do something.

"I've thought about this long and hard, and I've decided that…that I'm going to forgive you." I admitted, causing her head to snap up, her fiery red hair wild and framing her face as her eyes widened.

Tears began to fall down her cheeks while her lips quivered, "Thank you, so much!"

"Oh, don't get it twisted, Victoria." I chuckled once, humorlessly, "I didn't forgive you for you, I forgave you for me. But don't think you're going to go off unpunished. I've decided to switch you with another team member. I talked to Betsy on my way here, and she agreed to take you and give me Justine."

"Wha-what?"

"It's not like there will be much of a difference. You'll pretty much be doing the same thing you do under me, except now, you'll be on different projects. I think this is for the best, since I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, now." I said nonchalantly. In all honesty, she was getting off easily.

"O-Okay." She whispered.

"And this also doesn't mean that you can slack off. With me forgiving you, that means that I'm not going to let this interfere with the job, meaning you can still become a head photographer one day." I admitted before pointed to the door, silently telling her to get out of my face.

With a nod of her head, she trudged to the door.

"Oh, Victoria." I called, just remembering something, "How's James doing? I really didn't mean for him to hear that." I asked softly, concerned for the man who got his heart broken as well.

"Um…h-he postponed the wedding, saying that he needed time to think." She said, tears gathering into her eyes once more as she rushed out of my office. I sighed and sat down.

He wasn't the only one who had to think.

A/N: Well? Do you like it? Love it? Hate it? It's been a while, and I think that it'll get much better as I get in the groove with this story again, but I'm glad with the way it turned out! I'll be looking forward to reviews, and there's no pictures in this chapter, so you don't have to go looking for them! Until next time!