Chapter 24: Speak
January 11, 2010

EPOV

"Liam!" I called through the door and knocked on it. "Come on, buddy, you have to eat breakfast before we leave for school." I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. Just don't flip out, Edward; I told myself that over and over again. I waited. "Liam!" I yelled, and his door finally opened. He didn't even look at me, and just walked past me and down the stairs.

Man, I miss my son.

I stopped next in Peyton's room. She was trying to put her shoes on by herself, but looked like she was having a lot of trouble. I smiled, and walked over to her. I knelt down next to her and took over. No words were said, but she gave me a beautiful smile of thanks. I tied her laces to her pink sneakers, and picked her up. I kissed her cheek, and headed out the door with her. She had her head on my shoulder as I was walking down the hall and towards the stairs.

"I love you, Daddy." She said randomly, and parents like random declarations of love from their children. If only I could get those declarations from both of my children…

"I love you too, baby girl." I said and kissed her head. I walked into the kitchen, and Liam was already making his bowl of cereal. He has been taking on more tasks lately just so I didn't have to do them for him. I really don't know exactly when Liam got to hating me, but his behavior is so out of character, I think I am going to have to schedule him an appointment with Julia. I think he needs it. Hell I need it. I need my boy back or I think I will just scream.

I placed Peyton on the counter as I got her medicine out. She was swinging her little feet and banging them against the cabinets beneath her. She does this all the time, so it didn't really bother me that much. I took the two bottles out and got out the medicine cups and started twisting the cap off of one of the bottles.

"Can you stop?" I jumped at Liam's loud voice, yelling at his sister. I looked over at Peyton and the bottom lip was already jutting out. I put the cup and the bottle down and instantly picked her up. She clung to my neck and I turned to Liam who was now sitting at the table facing me.

"Liam." I called in a calm voice, but he didn't look at me. "Liam." I said with more warning in my voice. "Liam Cullen look at me right now!" I yelled. He finally lifted his head and looked at me, but didn't seem fazed by my yelling. "Why did you just yell at her?"

"Uh, because she was making a lot of noise and it was annoying me." He said like it was the most obvious thing.

"There are other ways of asking her to stop, Liam. Why would you yell at her? She was doing nothing wrong." He just shrugged his shoulders. "Apologize to her right now." He just looked at the bowl in front of him and took another bite. Peyton was crying now, and she was crying into my neck. "Liam say sorry." I said.

Again, I miss my son.

He sighed and mumbled. "Sorry." I could tell he really didn't mean it so I walked up to him with Peyton still in my arms and pulled up a chair next to him. I pushed his bowl over and that got me a dirty look, but I am really getting sick of his behavior. I turned his chair towards me and he looked shocked at my sudden assertiveness because I have been pretty passive when it comes to his behavior. I sat down on the chair beside him and sat a still crying Peyton in my lap facing him. She was sniffling and rubbing the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Look at your sister, Liam." He lifted his head to look at her. "She is crying and her feelings are hurt. I think that you should give her a better apology, don't you?" I said loudly.

He stared at Peyton and he looked like he was going to cry too. That was not what I wanted at all, but he needed to learn one way or another. "I'm sorry, Peyton. I won't yell at you anymore. I was wrong." He said.

"I-i-it's okay, W-Wiam." She said her hiccups making it hard for her to speak a straight sentence.

Liam surprised me when he looked at me. "I'm sorry, Dad." He said and I all about cried with elation. I kept my cool though. The is the most direct statement he has made to me in so long, and it was good seeing my Liam again…let's just hope it lasts.

"It's okay, son. Just never do that again, it was rude and unnecessary." He nodded his head, and turned his sit back towards the table and started eating again in silence. I gave Peyton her medicine, and sat her down with a cut up apple. I sat down with them drinking my coffee, and watching them both eat in silence. They both had a pensive look on their faces, and I knew it was because it has been a tough week for all of us.

It has been just about two months since Bella left. She rented an apartment that was about 15 minutes away from our home. Bella and I talked the night she told me she would leave and both of us agreed that she would only get to see us on a schedule. So we decided that Sundays would be the days that we would get together. I could tell this hurt Bella a whole lot when we were discussing it, but she was being strong. So every Sunday that Bella has been gone, we would go pick her up, and spend the day together. Bella was completely sober through all of this, and I couldn't wait for those days because words cannot express how much I miss my wife.

This has been the hardest thing I have had to live with. Liam of course was upset about the whole thing, and was unfortunately taking it out on me. He thinks I am responsible for this even though me and Bella sat down with him and talked to him about it. I get it though. He is confused and upset, and he needed to take it out on someone. I would rather it be me than Peyton or anyone else.

So we have seen her every Sunday, except yesterday. Bella is really sick with the flu. I called her Sunday morning, and it took her a while to answer. I was so worried I almost called 911. This may seem over dramatic or just plain ridiculous, but when your alcoholic wife is not answering the phone after 15 calls, you begin to think of some of the horrible things that could have happened to her. She ended up answering eventually and she sounded horrible. She was all congested; she could barely speak a word without breaking into a coughing fit, and it left my heart broken. I knew I couldn't bring the kids over because Bella was contagious and all that, so we missed out on seeing her yesterday. I was also left feeling horrible just because she was alone when she was so sick. I plan on making a trip over there though when I get out of work.

So I sit here looking at my heartbroken children and thinking of how I can somehow make this better for them.

"So Liam, are you ready for your birthday on Wednesday?" I asked while peeking in the rear view mirror to see his face. I could see his eyes light up, but his response did not match up with his eyes.

"Yeah, I guess." He said and looked out the window of the car. Peyton was looking out her own window and bobbing her head to the music on the radio, she was in her own little ballerina world.

"Well what do you want?" I asked him, just wanting him to talk to me. About anything really, I really missed his stories and his voice.

"Nothing." He said. I sighed and just decided to give up. He was obviously in a really bad mood today and I didn't want to make it worse for him. I need to call Julia.

I pulled up to his school and he picked his back pack up from the floor. "Uncle Emmett is going to pick you up, okay buddy? I will try to get out of work early."

"Yup." He said and opened the door. "Bye, Peyton." He said and climbed out of the car.

"I love you." I said hopefully.

"Bye." He said and shut the door. I swallowed down the hurt and turned back to the steering wheel. I gripped my hands around it and dropped my head on top of it. My eyes were shut tight trying to make the headache go away.

"It's okay, Daddy. I just think Liam is having a bad day." Peyton said sweetly. I lifted my head and turned in my seat to look at her. She had that look on her face of concern that reminded me so much of Bella and I smiled at her.

"Yeah I think so." I said. "Are you ready to go to Aunt Rose's, beautiful?" I asked and she nodded her head and smiled. "Okay, let's go then." I said and turned back to the steering wheel and took the car out of park and drove the five minute ride to Emmett and Rose's house. Rose has agreed to take Peyton for this week only. My parents were out on a vacation in Florida, and they watch Alyssa and now Peyton since Bella left. But obviously since they were away, they can't watch them, so Rose took the week off and so graciously offered to watch Peyton for me, and then Emmett picks up Emma, Nick, and Liam from school.

I would have taken the week off but work has been busy. I was just gaining Mitchell's trust back, and we have important meetings every day this week. I have been working on my speeches for a while now. It has been difficult to work so much in work and then come home, feed my kids, play with them, bathe them, get them to bed, and then work some more. I have been exhausted but I think after this week things will start to mellow out again which is good.

Preparing for speeches was an easy thing for me. I have been making speeches for so long now I don't even get that feeling of stage fright. I wasn't always that way, but I have always been a good speech giver. I remember I would make Bella sit down and listen to my boring speeches I was supposed to make in high school. And sometimes I helped her because Bella hated giving speeches…

~Flashback~

14 Years Old

"Good morning, everyone. My name is Edward Cullen and…" Edward was interrupted by Bella's snort of laughter and he glared at her. She rolled on the bed and laughed. "Bella! This is not funny!"

"I'm sorry." She said and then got up from the bed. "You just sound so formal."

"Its supposed to sound professional." He defended.

"I know that, but it just doesn't sound like you."

"So would you rather me start off like this." Edward crossed his arms and put on a bad ass face. "Yo bitches. The names Edward. Fucking listen to me."

Bella started cracking up even more and rolled over and off the bed. Edward dropped his hands and shook his head at Bella who was now rubbing her elbow that she fell on and still laughing loudly. "You are a clown!" She said.

"Can we be serious for five minutes, Bella?" Edward said trying to hold back a smile. Bella got up from the ground and sat back down on the bed.

"I'm sorry. I will be good." She said. Edward smiled, and started his speech once again. He had the same introduction, and he went on to talk about photosynthesis for five minutes. Bella listened to him without making faces or laughing. She just looked at her best friend and admired his confidence in himself and his words. His posture was strong and confident. He was moving his hands to enunciate his words and he was a very effective speaker. She actually learned about photosynthesis from him. Edward concluded the speech and Bella clapped.

Edward let out a laugh and his face turned red. "You are crazy, girl." Edward said and started to put his papers away in his bag and Bella smiled.

"Oh but you love me." She said and threw herself back on Edward's bed. Her hair was splayed around her with one knee bent and her hands on her stomach. Edward put his backpack to the corner of the room and laid down on the bed beside her. He had his hands behind his head and a part of his stomach was showing from where his shirt rode up. Bella brought her hand to his side and pinched his bare side. Edward jerked and laughed.

"Stop it!" He said as she kept pinching his side. He was laughing but trying to get away from her. He took his hands out from behind his head and put Bella in a playful chokehold. She was laughing and still trying to tickle him. They were laughing and then started wrestling on his bed. Edward flipped her over his shoulder onto the bed and she kicked his shins. They kept wrestling until Edward had Bella's hands pinned behind her back.

"Okay! Uncle! Uncle!" She said in surrender. He let go and they both collapsed back on the bed, out of breath.

"So do you want me to help you with your speech?" Edward asked and looked over at Bella.

The playful look on her face disappeared and she shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because…"

"Because why?"

"Because there is no helping me with that. I will just have to wing it."

"I can help you, Bella. We have the same teacher but at different times, so I want you to do well." Bella just looked away. "Come on, Bella. Pleeeassee!" He said dramatically like a two year old girl asking for a pony.

Bella smiled and looked at him. "Okay, thanks. That sounds good."

"Great!" They both got up, and Bella looked over to Edward's clock on the bedside table.

"Shit." She said and got up fast from the bed. "Forget that idea." She said and ran to pick up her sneakers from across the room.

"Why?" Edward asked.

"My Mom is going to be home in five minutes. I wasn't even supposed to come here." She said while trying to put her shoe on and balancing on one foot.

"But your speech…"

"I will work on it. I promise." Bella said while tying her shoe.

"Make sure you do, Bella. This grade is important." Bella walked over to him, hugged him, and kissed him on his cheek.

"Stop worrying, buddy. I will do it, I promise you. You will see me tomorrow at lunch beaming because I got the highest grade in the class."

Edward smiled at her as she turned to walk out the door. "I won't be your friend if you don't!" He said jokingly. She just laughed and stuck her tongue out at him.

Edward was walking to his locker right before lunch the next day and looking around for Bella. She didn't show up to his house this morning so his parents can bring her to school, so he didn't know if she even went to school or if she did good on her speech. She had that class before lunch, so he wanted to know how it went. She didn't call last night, or come to his house, and he began to worry.

He approached his locker and opened it. A ripped piece of white lined paper fell out onto the ground. He bent down to pick it up, and looked at the words on the page. It was in messy handwriting, barely legible, but Edward knew exactly who wrote it.

Go to the tree.

That was all it said, and Edward finished up at his locker quickly. What was she doing at the tree? He thought. It was about 40 degrees outside; she would freeze out there near the tree they always met at afterschool. Thankfully the school allows students to go outside during lunch as long as they stay on the property. He power walked to the front door, and once he felt the cold air from outside hit him, he started running toward their tree. He could see her feet, but that was it. She was sitting on the ground and he ran over to her. He got in front of her and saw that she was shivering and he could tell she had been crying.

"Bella! What are you doing out here?" He asked and sat down on the ground beside her. He threw his backpack to the side and unzipped his hoodie.

"No! Keep it on, Edward, you don't need to freeze." Bella said with her arms wrapped around herself.

Edward sighed and opened his sweater. "Come here." He said softly. Bella smiled and wrapped her arms around his skinny middle and her head was resting on his chest. He put his arms around her, his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, holding it around her and making sure her bare arms were blocked from the cold air.

Bella sighed in contentment but then started crying. "You are so warm."

"What's the matter, honey?" Edward asked while keeping his arms and sweater wrapped around her tight.

"I ran out of the class today."

"What? Why?"

"I choked on the speech and I was so embarrassed, Edward, I felt I could just die. Plus I have a headache and ugh. I felt so stupid."

"You aren't stupid Bella. I thought you were going to prepare?"

A mix between a sob and a laugh came out of Bella's mouth. "I tried to. I swear to you Edward, I did."

"So what happened?"

"When I got home, my Mom wanted to take me out. I didn't want to, but I knew she would hit me if I didn't so I went. I brought my notebook and pencil with me." She sniffled and wiped her tears against Edward's shirt, he didn't mind one bit. "We went to some guy's house; I don't know who he was. She just left me alone and was on her way with some guy. There were about five people in the living room; a couple practically having sex on the couch, two guys doing cocaine, and a guy drinking watching the couple."

"Why does she take you to those places, Bella?" Edward snapped in resentment.

"Shh…its fine, Edward." Bella said and rubbed his back in comfort. "I went into the kitchen to get away from them. I sat down at the table, and started working on the speech. I had trouble at first, but then it got good, I think you would have liked it."

"I know I would have."

"I know too. I was almost done when she came back downstairs. She was drunk, her nose was bleeding, and she wasn't wearing her bra anymore. She ripped the notebook out of my hands and ripped it up into pieces."

"Why would she do that, Bella? That makes no sense."

"I know it doesn't but what could I have done?" She sniffled against his chest.

"I am not saying it is your fault, but you don't deserve that, Bella."

Bella was silent for a couple of seconds and she was rubbing her hand up and down Edward's back. Funny how she was the one comforting him when she was the one treated so unfairly. "She said I was embarrassing her by not being part of the party or whatever. She put the pieces of my notebook in the trash and poured some vodka on top of it. She took the bottle and gave it to me and told me to drink or I would regret it."

"I hate her so much, Bella."

"I know you do, but there is nothing I can do about it, Edward. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me, Bella." Edward said with anger and frustration, but also concern. "I just hate the way she treats you."

"I am used to it. It's no big deal."

Edward shook his head, trying to make himself believe that was not true. "You want to get out of here?" He asked.

Bella lifted her head and looked at him quizzically. "Is Edward Cullen going to be bad ass and skip school with me?"

Edward laughed at his friend despite his anger. "I would do anything for you." He said seriously.

Bella smiled and kissed his cheek. "Ditto."

~End Flashback~

I pulled up to Rose's house and turned the car off. "Aww come on Daddy! I wiked that song!" Peyton complained from the back seat. I smiled and got out of the car. I opened her door and started unbuckling her.

"Sorry, baby, it's on my iPod; I will let you listen to it when you get home." She kissed my cheek when I picked her up out of the car and I kissed her cheek a million times more on our way to the front door. She giggled and tried to push my face away. I rang the door bell, and Rose answered immediately.

"Hey pretty thing!"

"Hey Rose." I said with a smirk.

"She's not talking to you Daddy!" Peyton said and Rosalie and I laughed.

"I know, because you are the prettiest girl in the world." I said.

She giggled. "I know."

I laughed and kissed her cheeks again. "Okay, I really have to go." I said and handed Peyton over to Rose.

"Alright, we will be here. Just call if you need anything." Rose said.

"I will, and call me too." I said. She nodded her head. I looked at Peyton. "Bye, princess, have fun."

"Love you, Daddy!"

"I love you too, beautiful." I said and leaned over to kiss her forehead. I said bye to Rose again and walked back over to the car. I heard the door shut behind me, and my phone started ringing in my pocket right as I went to open the driver's side door. I went in the car and took it out of my pocket.

It was Bella.

My heart did a bunch of crazy things and I picked it up immediately. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby." She said sounding so sick I just wanted to hold her.

"Hey, love, how are you feeling?"

"Really bad, baby. Mrs. Anderson is going to bring me to the hospital."

I was already driving and close to the highway and I almost swerved off the road. "The hospital?"

"Yes, but calm down, Edward. I just haven't eaten or drank anything since Saturday, and I keep throwing up." She started coughing and I had to restrain myself from heading to her house.

"But you are going to the hospital, Bella."

"I know, and I know you also hate hospitals. I will be fine."

"But Bella…"

"Edward, stop. I will be fine. They will probably just give me fluids and send me on my way. Plus, you have to work."

She had me there. There really wasn't anything I could do by going with her, and if I left work, I would for sure be fired, and that is the last thing I need right now. I have already been given breaks by Mitchell by showing up to work late a couple of times, and I could notice his growing agitation against me, and I will try my best to get him liking me again.

"Okay, but make sure you call me, Bella."

"I miss you, Edward."

I love this woman so much. Why must things be so fucked up? Why does life have to be so complicated? I love her, she loves me, we have two beautiful children; why can't that be enough for us have a normal life where we can just be together and just be happy? Why us?

"I miss you too, love. You know what you have to do to get us back."

She sniffled and started coughing again. "I know. I am working on it."

I have heard this many times, so I tried to not get my hopes up for a recovery from her by tomorrow. "Okay love, I am pulling up to work now, make sure you call me okay?"

"I promise."

"I love you." I said.

"I love you, too. Bye, baby, have a good day." We hung up, and I walked into the building of my work. I took the elevator to my floor, and noticed Karen wasn't at her desk. I went into my office, and saw I had a message on my phone. It was Karen, and Nancy was also sick, so she was staying home to take care of her. Oh how I wish I could do that for my wife.

I paced in my office going over my speech in my head. We have a meeting in an hour. I think I will be fine, but my mind kept wandering over to different things. Liam's bad mood this morning, if Peyton is having a good day, how Bella is making out at the hospital. I caved and called her about an hour after I got to work just to see how she was doing. She said they were still waiting in the waiting room, and that was about a half an hour ago so they were probably still waiting.

I was interrupted from my internal thinking session by the phone ringing. I instantly ran for it because it was probably Bella. "Hello?" I said.

"Hi, is this Edward Cullen?" Okay, this is a man, not Bella.

"Yes it is."

"This is Mr. Hayley from Seattle Elementary school, and I am going to need you to pick up your son, Liam Cullen."

"Now?" I asked. It was only 10:00.

"Yes. Liam started a fight with a boy in his class, and he is suspended from this school for two days."

"What?" I asked a little too loudly. Liam? Liam got in a fight in school? He started it? Suspended? They suspend elementary school kids?

"Liam jumped on a boy and started punching and hitting him. We asked him why he did it, and he refuses to speak to anyone except his Mom. I tried calling Mrs. Cullen's cell phone, but there was no answer, so I called you." Bella must be in a room by now if she is not answering. There would be no service for her once she got past the waiting rooms.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed loudly. Why is this happening? "Can I send my brother to pick him up, sir? I really can't leave work right now."

"I am sorry Mr. Cullen, but we are not allowed to hand over children to anyone but their parents or legal guardians in the event of a suspension."

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. "Can I go there in a couple of hours at least?" I know I might sound like an asshole right now, but if I leave now, I will be out a job; a job that I love so much.

"Mr. Cullen, you will need to come now."

"But you have my permission over the phone for someone else to pick him up. Please, sir, you don't understand." I know I sounded desperate, but I knew I had absolutely no chance of getting in touch with Bella right now, and Mitchell will for sure fire me if I leave and I want my job so much.

"Mr. Cullen. I am not going to fight with you over this. I already spent 30 minutes fighting to get your son to cooperate and I don't have the patience to do this with you." He snapped. I know I was being difficult, but he didn't have to be that rude.

My shoulders slumped in defeat. This is really it. "I will be there in 10 minutes."

Wow. This is really it.

I walked on the pathway to Liam's school for the first time as an unemployed man. I went to Mitchell's office to tell him I had to leave, and he flipped out on me. I deserved all of his harsh words and yells, I knew this, but it still hurt to be fired. I mean, I tried so hard at that job, and I loved it. I felt like a failure, and it sucked so much. I practically begged him to give me a second chance, but it was for nothing. I didn't want to leave work, but I was put up against the wall. And now knowing I needed to go pick up Liam after he got in a fight in school was making all of this worse. What was I going to do with him?

I went to the main office, and Liam was sitting in one of the chairs with his knees pulled up to his chest, and his arms wrapped around them staring off into nowhere. I opened the door and he looked over to me. No emotion came on his face, and he just looked away again. I walked to the front desk.

"I am Liam's dad." I said.

"Okay, you just need to sign here." She said and handed me a paper stating Liam's suspension. "Mr. Hayley had a meeting, so he wanted me to tell you that if it happens again, Liam will be expelled from the school."

"I understand. It won't happen again." I said because me and Liam were going to have a long talk when we got home.

She nodded her head. "We will see him in two days then." She said and I nodded. I turned to Liam.

"Let's go." I said. I didn't have an angry tone with him because I didn't want to make a scene. I feel like this might be better to deal with by being calm with him. Julia will be getting a call from me today because I can't let this go on. This is not my son, and I want him back. This boy has so much anger in him, and I know it is because of what is going on with Bella so seeing a psychiatrist can only help him. Hell I might need one soon.

We walked out to the car in silence, and the ride home was in silence, and so was the walk to the door. I unlocked the door, and Liam tried to go up the stairs.

"No I don't think so." I said in a warning tone. He stopped half way and turned towards me. "Come with me to the living room. We need to talk." I said. He sighed and followed me in the living room and he sat down on the couch. I was standing in front of him. "I just have one question for you, Liam." He nodded his head. "Why did you start a fight with that boy?"

"He was making me mad." He said.

"What was he saying?"

"He kept on asking me questions and I didn't want to talk to anyone. He kept asking, and asking, and asking, and asking, so I told him to shut up."

I ran my hands through my hair and groaned. "Why would you say that, Liam?" I asked a little louder than before. The stress of the day was catching up with me. "You know you aren't supposed to say that."

"But I was mad! And then he told me I was a mean and stupid." He started off strong, but then his voice started to fade by the end like he was leaving something out.

"So you hit him?" I asked.

He shook his head and I saw tears build in his eyes. "Not because of that."

His voice was filled with emotion, and it was the first time I think I was glad to see the tears. It was Liam showing some form of emotion in front of me besides resentment and anger. "Well then why Liam? I don't know what it was, but I bet you it was no excuse to fight him. You know better than to start a fight with someone!" I was yelling at him now, and I felt bad as I saw more tears build in his eyes, but I can't let this slide. "What were you thinking? You are better than that Liam! I am so disappointed in you…"

He got up to his feet. "He told me I was stupid and my Mom didn't love me!" He screamed at the top of his lungs and I could tell it was helping him by letting his anger out in some way. He looked liberated for a split second, but then I saw my boy crumble in front of my eyes. He was sobbing and grabbing his chest and fell to the ground. My whole being burned with the pain of seeing my son in so much pain he just collapsed. I stood in shock for a moment before I was on the floor with him, and I pulled him in my arms.

"Shhh…son. Please stop." I begged him as his little body shook in my arms.

"I-I-I'm s-sorry, Dad." He said and clung to me. Maybe I should be not be giving into him right now, maybe that is what a parenting expert would say. I don't fucking know, but I believe we have special circumstances here. I just couldn't yell at him right now. I know he is not a bad kid, and he didn't start the fight just to be a brat. He will still be in trouble later, but right now my boy was leaning on me for support for the pain that is way deeper than the words that were spoken to him today by that boy. My boy was young, and confused, and in pain, and was missing his Mom. I am his father, and I don't care what I should be doing right now. I need to comfort my son.

"Shh…it's okay, Liam. Calm down, buddy." I could feel his fingers dig into my back as he gripped onto my shirt. "I got you, son." I said and held onto him tightly. His cries got a little quieter, but he was still crying and it was breaking me in two. "I know you are hurting Liam. I know you miss your Mom. I know, buddy. I wish there was something I could do for you."

"Why can't she c-come home."

"It's complicated, Liam. You won't be able to fully understand it, but trust me your Mom is gone because her and I decided it will be the best for now. Your Mom is sick, and she needs help, it is just going to take her time. But she loves you Liam, don't ever doubt that. Your Mom and I will always love you no matter what."

"I just want us all to be together again."

"I know." I didn't know what to say to help him. "We are working on it. I know things have been hard for you, and I am trying my best to make this better for you. I have been trying so hard, buddy." A tear fell down my cheek and I dropped my head so my cheek was resting on the top of his head. "I'm not perfect, but I promise to do whatever I can to make this better. I will do anything for you."

He nodded his head against my chest and I held him close to me. I don't know for how long this wall he has built will be down, but I will take advantage of it just to remind him how much he means to me. My wife is an alcoholic and living away from me, and I was fired from a job I loved today but I know I will make it because of him and Peyton. Through all of this, they are my constants and I really will do whatever I can for them.

Oh man, I feel so bad for Edward and Liam. That last scene was hard to write, but it is necessary. I hope you all like this one!

ATTENTION! There is two chapters before the prologue chapter! So that means the prologue chapter will be coming to you next Monday! I am very very very excited for the next chapter though. I am not going to give anything away, but I am excited for it, and I am also excited to write the prologue.

I just have to say I love writing this story so much (and WRM), it is one of the best parts of my day when I can just sit down and write, and I am happy to share it all with you, and I hope you are liking it!

Also, me and my FFBFF AlexaET are going to be teaming up on a joint project! We have been working on a new story that we are both so excited for! Our penname is MonyAlexa if you want to add it to your alerts or something. We would appreciate it! Also you can follow me and her on Twitter (Blueking141 and AlexaUrce) because we are going to be posting teaser pictures and stuff like that!

Thanks for reading, and please review, I will appreciate it so much :]