Twilight and its characters are owned by Stephenie Meyer and only Stephenie Meyer. I take pride in Stalker and his Care Bear though.

A/N: A huge thanks to all my regular readers and reviewers, seriously I wish I could hug the crap out of each and every one of you. So because you're all so amazing I have granted you nice surprise at the end of this chapter.

Broken Dreams Bring New Reality

Chapter 25

~~*Bella*~~

I took three steps inside and closed the door without looking back as my eyes adjusted to the darkness that greeted me.

The smell of cigarette smoke made me sick to my stomach and I knew before anything else I needed to get some windows open. There was no way I'd be able to stay in here for more than a minute otherwise. I could barely breathe without choking on the contaminated air.

Dammit, Jacob.

I was disappointed to say the least. We both had quit smoking together more than three years ago. The discovery that he had once again picked up the habit was a huge set back.

"Jacob?" I called out as I lifted one of the living room windows open in front of me, letting some of the cool winter air into the stuffy apartment. I quickly stuck my head out the window and took in two deep breaths before making my way to the back of the apartment where the only other room was located.

Noticing shadows moving around in the bedroom I turned to head towards the doorway that was already cracked opened, stopping by the stereo to first turn the defining music down.

My hands were trembling and sweating. I had no idea what I might find when I looked inside. Again, I called out his name, hoping desperately that he might give me the all clear to come in.

"Bella?"

I breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of his raspy voice.

"Why are you here?" He asked with a scanty sneer. "Did Sam kidnap you and force you to come?"

He was still slightly intoxicated; I could tell by the way he spoke and the lost look on his face.

I'd seen him far worst before so I wasn't worried. He was under control of his words and actions and it gave me the courage I needed after I took another deep breath before going further into the bedroom we once shared.

"What are you doing Jake?" I asked looking around the dark room.

The entire apartment was a mess but the bedroom looked completely unlived in. The bed was made and the curtains were drawn, but Jacob sat hugging his knees in the far right corner. His guitar lay on the ground beside him untouched. He looked serene but entirely broken.

"I was trying to write a new song but it won't come out the way I want it to. It's missing something."

"Oh. Well, maybe your head is feeling too cloudy to let you get creative?" I suggested after taking another step further into the room.

He wasn't sleeping in the room, that much was obvious. The thought of why that was made me hurt. Why wouldn't he just move out if he had such strong feelings about this apartment?

"Why'd you come here, Bella?" The pain behind his words almost knocked the wind out of me. It was as if he feared my answer and for some reason that tore me apart.

"I heard you were having a rough time."

"Like you give a shit," he muttered, swiftly bringing his guitar to his lap and beginning to strum the strings.

It was something he always did when he was uncomfortable with conversation. His own way of putting up a wall- but I wouldn't let it go. Not after everything that had happened.

"When did you start smoking again?" I asked disapprovingly as I walked across the room to pull the curtains back and open the window, relieving us both of the smoke that had also filled this room.

"On tour."

"Seems you picked up a lot of things while on tour," I mumbled, stealing a glance in his direction just in time to catch his grimace at my words.

"I guess I deserve that."

"What are you doing to yourself, Jacob? You're messing everything up for the band. How can you not see that? How can you be this selfish?"

The answer came to me the moment the words left my mouth.

That was who he was.

"Jesus. I need a break! I need some time for myself," he shouted sounding exasperated.

"But they depend on you! You can't think of just yourself, Jacob. You need to cut this shit out," I said in my most serious tone. "I need you to cut this shit out. I refuse to let you throw everything you've worked so hard for out the window as if it means nothing at all to you."

"Seriously, Bella? Why do you care?" He asked in a huff before strumming a bunch of random strings out of tune aggressively.

"I care because you chose this over us. That better fucking mean it was worth it. I refuse to make it all have been for nothing," I yelled loudly after stomping my foot.

He looked away embarrassed and I saw his shoulders relax a little.

"That was the stupidest decision of my life."

"We're past that Jake. Nothing has changed. I am still happy with where I am. However, that doesn't mean I've stopped caring about you. You have to stop this. And if you don't I will go see your parents myself."

I was surprised by the smirk that crossed his face.

"You wouldn't," he dared playfully.

I was pissed that he could find a humor in his situation. I hadn't meant any of what I'd say as a joke.

"I'm not playing any games, Jake. You could have died," I sighed in defeat as I slid my body down the wall to take a seat beside him. He wasn't taking anything seriously and until he did none of it would change.

"It was an accident. It's won't happen again."

"Why? Because you'll keep better track of your dosage? No," I raised my voice, feeling more and more upset by the second. "You're going to cut all this shit out. The pills, the binge drinking, the smoking… all of it."

"What's it to you, Bella? Honestly? Because I don't buy your reason. You've said so yourself, you're happy. Can't you live your life and let me live mine? It's how you wanted it. You've made that perfectly clear," he replied softly while looking down towards my tear-streaked face. The sight of my crying seemed to soften him but I hated showing my weakness.

"Promise me you're going to cut it out. Promise you'll get back in the studio tomorrow," I pleaded.

He smirked again and told me he wasn't due back in the studio until Monday. I smiled at the sound of his happy tone and ability to make things not seem as bad as they really were.

It was funny how easily he could flip that switch.

"It doesn't matter. None of it matters anymore," he added in a whisper, ruining the moment.

"Dammit, Jake. Stop it. I just told you why it matters. Accept it and stop being so stubborn."

He began plucking his guitar strings again, not saying a word in return.

It was a familiar song. One he'd once told me I'd inspired all on my own as he watched me draw one late summer morning when we had gone into Central Park for a picnic.

"Can you please put that thing down for a minute? I need to speak to you and I need you to stop with the toddler-like avoidance behavior."

He looked up, probably surprised by the sound of hopelessness and agony in my voice. I watched as he slid the acoustic guitar up off his lap and onto the bed in front of us.

"You look good, Bells." I redirected my eyes away from his, feeling uneasy by the sudden compliment.

"No, really. You look amazing," he insisted, not ready to let it go.

I cleared my throat once, crossing my arms in front of me and pulling on my jacket.

There was no right way to tell him. No way he'd take it lightly. I really wished Charlie hadn't gotten to me because I was ready to back out. I was desperate for a way out of it. What would I say to him? And how would I say it?

"Jacob I'm pregnant," I blurted out, closing my eyes to shield away from the wrath I knew would come.

His expression went from peaceful to absolutely pain-stricken in a matter of seconds when I peeked at him once the silence surrounded us. I hadn't meant to say it but the words had come pouring out before I could stop myself.

"You're fucking what? Please tell me this is your idea of some twisted, fucked-up joke because you could not have just said what I think you did," he growled frantically while standing up beside me. I saw both his fists ball at on his sides just before he turned himself away from me breaking our eye contact and stomping away, grumbling profanity after profanity. He slammed the bedroom door shut after crossing the threshold into the living room, leaving me alone and feeling more hopeless than I had before.

Well, that could have gone both better and-or a lot worst.

My phone buzzed in my bag as soon as the thought left my mind. Edward. He'd heard the door slam, no doubt.

Are you ok? What did he do? Should I come up? -E

I let out a sigh and sunk lower to the ground, needing a moment before I tried to stand up.

He knows. He slammed the door after leaving the room. I'm ok. -B

I got myself up off the floor and went into the bathroom to splash water on my face. Things weren't going as easily as I had hoped. I stood still, staring at my reflection as my lips trembled. Memories of the last moment I'd spent in the very same spot came rushing back. The morning after the big mistake. The feelings of regret and disappointment in myself. The thought of never having Edward again.

Stay strong, I reminded myself for Edward. Things can only get better from here. Right?

I walked back into the bedroom. My eyes scanned the room again and I noticed all our framed photos were now lining the dresser by my side of our once-shared bed. The entire scene was so unwanted it was literally giving me chills. It was almost as if he had set it up to be some kind of shrine to what we once were and a sudden sob escaped my lips.

"Oh Jacob."

None of it made any sense. Looking back at everything, at how it all started… I felt like I was standing in the middle of a Twilight Zone episode once more.

I took another deep breath and whipped my eyes of the fresh tears that had formed before making my way to the door. I didn't know how to tell him the rest. The other part of it might soften the news, but at the same time it would probably make it entirely more unbearable for him.

He hadn't even tried to move on yet. Telling him that we might be having two babies together would turn his world upside down.

Please let Charlie have been right. Please don't let me hurt him any further.

He was out on the balcony, puffing away on another cancer stick while pacing back and forth, his other hand tugging on his hair frantically.

I went to the kitchen and got a glass from the cabinet, filling it with water from the sink and trying my best not to tumble the pile of dished that had accumulated inside of it. I couldn't believe how much of a mess the tiny apartment was in. Jacob had never been the unkempt type. I walked by the couch and saw a pillow and comforter lying in a pile on the floor. The empty frame of the coffee table still remained though someone had thankfully picked up the broken glass from Jacob's fall.

I opened the door and wrapped my arms across my body, closing my jacket to protect my shaky body from the chilled winter air. A deep shiver ran down my spine as I rubbed my arms briskly trying to warm myself.

"Jake…there's more," I muttered after stepping out onto the patio, closing the door behind me and taking a seat across from where he stood. I watched as he leaned over the edge of the balcony, ashing his cigarette. He looked more tormented than I'd ever seen him.

"Can you please put that thing out while we talk?" I begged loudly. He glanced over his shoulder at me with a sneer and flicked the cigarette from his fingers before turning around and crossing his arms.

He was preparing for the worst.

"I get it, Bella. You've moved on. I don't need to hear anymore. I guess this is the closure I needed," his voice shook enough for me to notice and it made it unbelievably difficult to look him in the eyes now. "Shit, this is some fucked up situation. Five years with me and he does it in two months. If you're going to tell me the wedding is in two weeks you can walk out that door right now Bella."

I couldn't blame him for thinking that. Edward and I hadn't exactly done things in sequence, or in a traditional kind of way. We had built ourselves a life together in record time.

"Jake, stop. There is more but it has nothing to do with a wedding. Christ."

"Oh, I bet. And why wouldn't there be? The news that your knocked up was just the warm up, right? 'I'm pregnant and I'm getting married'. Shouldn't that go together, isn't that the fucking path you've decided to go down? Well, go on. Let's hear it. What else is there if there's no god damn wedding Isabella?"

His anger was getting the better of him and for a brief moment I was actually too frightened to continue.

I could barely think let alone utter a word as his eyes kept burning into me.

"Don't look at me like that. Don't look at me like you want to hurt me," I somehow choked out. His words had reached me more than he'd possibly meant them to. Sitting back further into the chair my jacket accidentally fell open and exposed my noticeable bump.

"I can't believe you let this happen. You hardly fucking know him!" He grumbled as his eyes settled on my stomach. He turned his back on me and I swore I heard a cry leave his lips, which only made my own tears begin to fall.

"Please, sit?" I asked trying to warn him with my tone but he merely let out a sarcastic laugh and shook his head in disobedience.

I was wiping my damp cheeks with the back of my sleeve when he turned suddenly and examined me, his entire expression changing as something appeared to hit him.

"Wait a second… How far along are you? That can't just be a few weeks, can it? Fuck, Bella, what the hell is going on here? Is it… am I …" he trailed off. His eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open as he took a step towards me.

Standing to stop him from saying anything further, I rested my hands on my stomach. I tapped my bump lightly twice, my own signature move. The Double Belly Bump, as Edward liked to call it.

"I'm having twins… and yes. They might be yours," I let the words rush out and walked to stand beside him so that I could glance down at the busy street where traffic was backed up and life was going on.

I looked over at Jacob after a minute or two had passed. He hadn't uttered a single sound or moved a muscle. He only stared at me with disbelief. His head shook back and forth over and over again, his jaw clenched and eyes blank.

"Are you fucking with me?" He finally grunted.

"What? Of course I'm not, it's the truth. We can have a test done next month to find out for sure, but everyone seemed to think it was important I tell you before then."

"You… you weren't going to tell me?" He stuttered looking both battered and offended. He actually looked completely livid.

"It just seemed better to wait. There was no need to tell you if the results came back positive that Edward was their father," I told him honestly, while I continued to avoid his stare.

"What made you change your mind?"

"Charlie and Edward both thought it was best."

"That makes sense," he snickered before walking to take a seat on the lounge chair.

"Shit Bella," he cursed for what felt like the one-hundredth time. "What the hell does this mean? Five minutes ago I was finally ready to accept that I needed to let you go and now you're tell me I might be a father… and to twins? Jesus Christ."

I drew a breath in sharply. What did this mean? What now?

Running my hands through my hair, I walked back over to where he sat and took a seat next to him. "I wish it weren't happening, Jacob. Believe me. I wish we could have been able to have a clean break but apparently that's just not how destiny has seen it. I'm sorry. I never wanted to put you through this but now more than ever I need you to stop all this madness. Seeing you this way and hearing you're in a hospital… I can't handle it. If something were to ever happened to you, lord help me Jake, I would never forgive you," I told him as the tears rushed down my face again.

I felt him wrap his arms around me instantly, bringing my body closer against him. The warmth felt better than the hateful stares he'd given me moments ago so I didn't push him away.

"Please don't cry. I'm sorry, I'm being an ass as usual. I don't want to hurt you anymore. Really, I don't. Just tell me what this means. Tell me what I need to do."

I looked up into his eyes after hearing the Jake I had once loved and appreciated more than anything. I shrugged my shoulders in shame, not knowing how to answer his question.

"I'm not really sure. I suppose the doctor will let me know when I go in for my part of the test. Most likely, I assume they will need you to go give a DNA sample at the clinic uptown. We'll have the results a week after I've had the test done. We should know something in the next five weeks or so and then hopefully we can put all this behind us."

"And… what if they're mine?" He asked huskily, his voice lowering with the word, 'mine'.

"We'll figure that out if it happens. There's a very slim chance, Jake. Please understand that," I spoke carefully. There was no need to torment him any further.

"I get it, I was there," he let out furiously, his mood changing once again like a light switch.

I looked down at my feet as I felt my curiosity get the better of me. "Did we… I mean… did you even… finish that night?"

Jacob choked on his breath and looked away from me. He'd clearly not been expecting my question. I gave him a while before pushing further.

"I was so drunk that night Jake," I whispered, expressing that fact a bit further for some reason.

"Yeah, thanks for pointing that out. I noticed when you passed out underneath me crying," he shot back before jumping up from his seat to walk away again.

It didn't go unnoticed that he hadn't answered my actual question.

"So what happened that night?" I asked, shocking myself with the ability to not back down.

"You were drunk and I took advantage of you. Yes, I completed my caveman mission and I've felt like shit for it since. It's going to be a great story to tell our possible children someday," he spat and kicked the railing with his foot. The entire foundation shook underneath us from his violent outburst.

"You should go."

"What? But, Jake—"

"Go! Now! Before I say something I'll regret Bella," he shouted, pointing his finger towards the front door and looking away from me. I bit my lip to hold back my cry as I shook my head in obedience.

His tone had once again shaken me to the bone. I couldn't find the strength to say anything else. I'd never heard him yell with that much fervor. Not ever. My knees trembled under my weight but I managed to make my legs carry me forward back inside, touching the familiar furniture pieces as I passed them by.

Stopping after my hand reached the door knob, I looked back one last time at my past as he crumbled further on the balcony and feared I had done the exact opposite of my intentions.

The news had devastated him even further. I had successfully ripped out his heart and stomped on it several more dozen times.

I didn't deserve to be going down stairs to the man who had somehow accepted me and all my complicated baggage. I didn't deserve to be happy. Not when I was walking away from bruising someone so deeply.

~~*Edward*~~

Things hadn't gone well. I knew that much the moment she walked through the door.

Emmett had reported to me that he could repeat the conversation back to me verbatim because he'd had his window open and could hear them out on the balcony while they talked it out. As much as I appreciated the offer, I had refused.

That was far too intrusive and I wasn't about to start playing those kinds of games even if my girl did like to call me her Stalker.

"Shh, baby. Don't cry. The hard part is over," I promised as I pulled Bella down into my lap and wrapped my arms around her protectively.

"He hates me," she frowned as I wiped away her tears.

"I doubt that." No one could hate her. Especially not Jacob. He'd only been stunned the same way I was when I'd first heard the news.

Well… no. Not the same way.

I'd gotten to keep her so I was in a much better position. I could only imagine what was going through his mind. A thousand thoughts about how it could benefit both him and her, I'm sure.

"He'll get over it once the initial shock settles," I promised her.

He'd be back. He could never stay away for long. I knew that.

She'd done her part and gotten everything out. She would be able to sleep with a clear conscience now.

"I told him everything. That they're twins and that there's a chance he could be the father. For some damn reason I even pointed out that it was a small chance. That's what seemed to make him angry… and then I decided to bring up that night. I asked what actually happened." She stopped there and a shivering cry escaped her, breaking my heart that much more. "I asked him how far things had gone and he said something about having a great story to tell our maybe-children one day. He looked so broken, Edward. He was ready to let me go and now I've thrown this on him. I was wrong to tell him. I shouldn't have listened to Charlie. We should have waited."

"No, baby. You did the right thing. He had the right to know. He needs to be ready just in case," I whispered while stroking her hair just as we heard a loud bang come from above. It was followed by two more crashes and then muffled shouting. Bella let out a loud sob and hugged me closer.

"Dammit, See! I should have waited! Why did I let Charlie get to me? I know Jacob better than anyone else. I should have—" her words were cut off by a loud knock that came from Emmett's front door. Up until then Emmett had remained in his bedroom while Bella and I talked out in the living room but he was suddenly there, looking pumped and ready for a fight.

"Let's do this," he barked, punching his fist into his other hand.

"Calm down, Muhammad Ali," I directed. Leave it to him to find a quick solution. Fists always solve everything in my best friends eyes.

"It's him," Bella said into my neck. She clasped tighter onto my shirt and shook more violently than before.

"If you have nothing more to say to him then I'll tell him to leave," I told her while wiping a tear from her cheek. "And if he doesn't listen, I will force him to."

She nodded and finally looked up at me. I lifted her up off my lap and sat her back down on the couch so that I could get the door.

I waved Emmett away but he shook me off saying he'd rather stand behind while I confronted the person at his front door.

It better not be Jacob. It better not fucking be. She can't take anymore today.

I was surprised to find Sam standing in front of me, looking uncomfortable and concerned.

"Is Bella alright?" He asked and peered over my shoulder to search for her.

"Yeah, she's holding up." I eyed him suspiciously. Bella had told me how good of a friend Sam had once been to her but I had to be careful. I'd learned how manipulative Jacob could be and how easily he could convince his friends to help him out.

"What's going on up there?" I asked closing the door slightly, not wanting Bella to hear or worry.

"He's throwing shit around. Nothing major, he's just venting," he waved it off as if it was no big deal so I decided to take his word for it. "I wanted to make sure Bella was ok. She rushed right past us without even looking at us."

"She's shaken up that he took it the way he did, but she'll be fine."

Sam looked down with a shake of his head and huffed.

"It's a pretty twisted situation."

"Yeah. That seems to be the perfect phrase for it, doesn't it?" A part of me wanted to like Sam but I still couldn't see myself trusting him. He seemed too involved with the other side, even if he also seemed to be having a hard time with that fact at the moment. His loyalties were far to bipolar for me to ever really get along with him. "We're handling it the best way we know how. She had to be honest with him."

"No, I get that. It's just… this is shitty man," he went on with perseverance. "And I'm sorry. I know I haven't been a good friend to her. Please tell her I apologize and want to change that. For real this time. I'm trying hard to see things from her side." I watched him as he shifted his weight back and forth nervously. "You seem like a good guy and you don't deserve any of this shit either. I hope you can believe me when I tell you Jacob's not all bad. He's in a bad place… he's been in one for awhile."

If anything, I had to admire his integrity. "He wasn't in a bad place when he left her."

"You're right, he wasn't. He had a different excuse for that," he responded then looked away again, obviously holding something back. "I guess I'll see Bella at work. She's still working, right?"

"Yeah, only for a few more days. Do you want to come in and talk to her?" I asked, not knowing what else to say and feeling a little awkward.

"No, that's alright, I don't want to cause her any more trouble. I wanted to make sure she was ok. She was brave to come here. Take care of her, Edward. She's a special girl."

"More than you know," I shook his hand and watched him walk down the hallway towards the elevator that would take him back up to the chaos above.

Three days had gone by and Bella was still her half-hearted self. It was difficult not to let it get to me. She didn't deserve to be carrying so many burdens still. That wasn't the way things were supposed to be. It was obvious that something had to be done before we left for Italy.

I never expected him to make the first move though.

"Mr. Cullen, there's a Jacob Black here to see you," an insecure Riley informed me after having knocked once at my office door. I sat back in my chair and voiced a huff.

What. The. Fuck.

What did he want now? And he came to my place of work?

The image of Jacob standing in my office was humorous and I now found myself smirking.

If he thought he could come and start shit or say something thinking I wouldn't kick the fuck out of him he had another thing coming. Phil would have my back, too. He knew everything and wouldn't hold it against me if my temper got the better of me.

"Let him in," I heaved with a single breath and clicked my mouse to save the file I had been working on.

I stood to glance out the window, hoping it would ease my annoyance while I waited for Jacob's arrogant face to walk in. I turned around as I heard the door open and did my best to shield the hate on my face.

"Jacob."

"Edward," he scoffed back after sticking his hands into his jean pockets. He continued to eye me up and down with distaste and I did my fucking best not to smirk over all the upper hands I held against him.

He despised me just as much as I did him and for some reason I found comfort in that.

"Riley, let Phil know I'll be a few minutes late for our conference call with James. I shouldn't be too long," I told my assistant who looked unsure about leaving me in the room alone with the man he'd just shown back.

"Were you in the neighborhood or were you just stopping in for a chat?" I asked after he said nothing once we were alone. He snorted back a laugh and his nostrils flared while his eyes continued to burn into me.

"I came to talk about Bella and… our situation. Jasper told me where you worked and I thought it'd be better for me to come here than show up at your place," he answered as his eyes began inspecting my office. He seemed impressed and disgusted at the same time, though he tried to hide it. His reactions were beyond amusing.

Apparently, it was still registering with him that Bella had upgraded the day she had walked out on him.

"Better for you or her?" I asked, my own arrogance getting the better of me.

"Both." He glared at me with hostility.

"What do you want, Jacob?" It had been less than five minutes and I'd already had enough. The conversation was boring me and I was ready to kick his pitiful ass out. He was trying to be a fucking thorn in my side when I had plenty of things I needed to be doing.

I certainly didn't get paid to deal with Jacob Blacks bullshit.

"I wanted to let you know I'm not going to be around. I can't… not if I want to make an honest effort at getting over her," he admitted. The fact that he avoided looking at me while he said the last part spoke volumes.

Coward.

"Ok," I replied casually, taking a seat behind the desk and leaning back. The fucker had more to say, my questioning wasn't necessary.

"I'm leaving the city. I've made arrangements to stay with a friend over in Jersey." He paused and waited for something—God knows what. The only feedback he received was a glance from me down my watch. "That being said… I don't want her trying to contact me unless you come back as a negative in the paternity test. She can let me know then. I'm not going uptown, they won't need my shit. If you fail then we know they're mine. I wouldn't deny those results and I don't need the confirmation. I'm not going to meet you guys for lunch to talk about names or pick out stuff for the registry while we wait. I now realize I could have lived the rest of my life without knowing about this. Especially if she's chosen to stay with you no matter what," he finished.

"That's not going to change," I challenged him with a raise of my brow.

"Yeah, I thought you'd say that."

"I would have wanted to know, if it was me, if things were different. Charlie was also sure that telling you was the right thing for her to do."

"That's no surprise. I figured he'd feel that way since he has his own skeletons to sort out. As for you and me, the only thing we have in common is that we're both in love with the same woman. There are no other shared comparisons. You and I couldn't be more different," he kept on, looking past me and out the window of the office I had killed myself to earn.

"Funny. We agree on something."

His eyes landed on the framed drawings on my desk and I noticed his body begin to shake in reaction to seeing Bella's work. The disapproving tension he gave away was enough to make my day if the announcement of his departure hadn't. Even if I didn't understand why he had to make it known.

If you want to disappear, fucking do it. We would all happily wave goodbye and hope to never see your fucking face again.

"And what if they doturn out to be yours? Then what?" I asked curiously. I assumed it was an appropriate question since he was being so forth about how he felt and what his plans were. I wanted to know how far into the future he had thought about.

"I haven't figured that out yet," he replied appearing irritated. "Just take care of her, Cullen."

"You don't have to tell me, Black. She will always be taken care of."

She was in better, more responsible, and capable hands now.

"And here." I opened my desk drawer to grab the envelope Phil had dropped off a week earlier. "Bella asked me to get some money for the ring you bought. I had a friend who knew someone. He said he got you a good return." I extended my arm out to hand it to him.

He didn't move, only stared at the envelope with a set jaw.

"Take it. She wants you to have it. It was fucked up of you to push that ring on her and you know it," I told him, amazed by my own patience.

"I don't want the money. Use it to start a college fund or something. I don't want it and I have half a mind to take a cab uptown right now to confront Bella about this," he returned with menace in his tone.

"You do that and I'll have security waiting for you. Only I'll make sure they give me a few minutes alone with you before they haul your sorry ass to jail for trespassing."

He wanted problems, I'd fucking give him some.

"I would expect nothing less, from someone like you Cullen," he threw out, clinching his fists at his sides now. "I'm fucking done. You have nothing to worry about. This," he paused to point his index finger back and forth between us. "This entire thinghas turned far too fucked for me. Just treat her right because I'll be back to catch her when she falls if you don't. And mark my words, with you out of the picture, she would come back."

"Don't be ridiculous, kid. You know she would've left you sooner or later. And trust me when I say it is you who has nothing to worry about," I gave back as I stood from my chair. "I'd actually like to thank you. I saw what treating her wrong can do and I'll never be the one to bring that kind of pain to her again. You will never get another chance. I'm not going anywhere, not ever."

He turned without saying another word and bolted out of my office as I said my last words, obviously having heard something he didn't like.

"In exactly eight hours I will—for the first time in my entire life—be on foreign soil," Bella screeched and giggled next to me as we waited in line to board our international flight. She had been acting like a child since we'd gotten out of bed this morning and I was enjoying every second of it.

Free-spirited Bella was something I loved and could never get enough of.

I was pleased by how well she had taken the news of Jacob showing up at my office and disclosing his plans for his future. It relaxed her and I'd decided to not question it at all. If the idea of the fucker keeping his distance helped loosen her up then I would take it and hope he'd stay away permanently even though I knew that was to be doubted. I was well aware of his game. He may have wanted to act like he was leaving out of selflessness but I knew better.

Give her time. Let her think he's finally being an adult. Let her believe he's getting his shit straight. Have her trust that he's really thinking about things to then swoop back in and play his next hand.

I wasn't a fucking idiot and I sure as hell wasn't going to let him ruin the week I had planned either.

Things would go smoothly for us in Italy. I had covered all bases to make sure of that. I'd even convinced Bella that she didn't need to bring her cell phone. I'd told her that mine was all we would need for the two weeks we'd have away.

That successfully guaranteed the dumb fuck wouldn't interfere during the next fourteen days. A week in Rome and a week in L.A. I had her all to myself and I was determined to make every moment count.

"It's too bad we're not going some place tropical. It would've been nice to take a break from the cold for a little while," she confessed after noticing the weather report for Rome flashing across the screen where our plane was boarding.

"It's not too late to change our plans," I teased. We could go anywhere and I'd be satisfied. One quick call to the travel agent and we could have our tickets exchanged for a week in Jamaica.

"Are you kidding? No way. Rome for Valentines Day is ideal Stalker," she insisted before rising up on her toes to kiss me. I smiled down and pulled her in closer to me. The scent of her new eucalyptus mint shampoo took over my sense of smell and made my damn toes curl.

My dick twitched as I thought of her in the shower, massaging her scalp and moaning lowly like she always did when she washed her hair. FUCK. I wondered if I could convince her to take a trip to the bathroom stall once we were up in the air.

She looked so fucking gorgeous, even in that cheesy t-shirt. She was wearing the shirt Alice had shown up with late last night. She'd insisted Bella show it off for our flight. Her reasoning was for comfort but I knew in reality she wanted to see Bella squirm. It had become obvious to me that Bella was feeling self conscious over her stomach, but for some reason I even found that sexy.

Truth was that it turned me the fuck on. Even more so than seeing her in heals and a revealing dress. How's that for some twisted shit?

She was so tiny everywhere else. Her bump made her look adorable and I already found myself having to concentrate on not staring at it religiously.

I underlined the words 'I'm not fat, I'm knocked up' on Bella's dark blue shirt with my finger and smirked.

"I could kill Alice for buying me this, let alone insisting I wear it in public. Did you text her the stupid picture as proof yet?" Bella asked while crossing her arms. Her frustration was entertaining, though I'd never tell her unless I wanted to have my balls handed to me.

"How far along are you?" An elderly woman asked from behind us, possibly eaves dropping on our conversation.

I knew shit like that bugged the crap out of my girl.

"Uh, almost twelve weeks with twins," she replied plainly, rubbing her stomach and giving it the double belly bump tap. I loved catching her at home in those moments when she thought I wasn't looking. Seeing her communicate in her own way with our unborn babies was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever witnessed.

I had seen her self-portraits a couple days back for the first time when she'd left the sketch book out and I'd asked if I could take a look. She had been sketching her belly since the day we'd found out we were having twins. Her drawings were definitely something to be seen.

It wasn't until my most recent conference call with James that an idea occurred to me. I needed to find the right time to present her with it because it would take some selling on my part.

"So it will be, what, seven at night when we land?" She asked after the old woman gave her an overly excited 'Aww' and a 'Bless your heart'.

"Yeah, dinner will be waiting for us in our suite," I grinned and pressed a kiss to her forehead

She shrieked, bouncing where she stood and wrapping her arms around my waist as we made our way down the ramp to board the plane that would trustingly take us to the most magical week of our lives.

I had big plans waiting to happen.

I only hoped she was ready for them.

My arm must've had at least four or five claw marks even though her nails dug into me from the outside of my wool winter jacket.

"Oh my GOD, Edward. It's beautiful. This is surreal. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. I feel like I'm in a movie," Bella squealed, looking out the cab window and doing some serious rocking from beside me.

I hadn't seen her this animated in a really long time and it was the best feeling in the world knowing I was the one who had done something to bring it on. I knew she loved her city but needed breaks from it every once in a while. There was too much there that reminded her of things she wanted to forget.

There was too much of her in that city for her to say goodbye to it permanently though.

Maybe buying us place on the west coast wouldn't be a bad idea. She could go back and forth with me and get those breaks to be free from it all. It seemed ideal and I made a mental note to look up a realtor while we were in L.A. for Jane's wedding.

It wouldn't hurt to look into it and it would be nice to have a steady place to bring Bree home to when we were on the west coast.

"I can't believe I'm really here with you. That we're here together and I'm pregnant so I won't get to try any delicious wine," she said with a fake pout.

"We can always bring some back with us for when you can," I commended with a smirk and lifted her chin up to reach for her lips. Our mouths parted against each other and I grunted at the taste of her tongue as it swept across mine. We moved slowly but with so much god damn passion it made me want to take her right there in the back of the cab.

"I can't wait to have you tonight baby," I growled and nibbled on her neck playfully. She sniggered and grabbed a hold of my hair, a wicked smirk plastered across her face while she bit her bottom lip.

Bella was glowing more with each passing day. I was feeling unbelievably sexually frustrated after the long flight where she made it a game to tease me with her hands from under the blanket I'd draped across our laps.

"You'll have to wait, Mr. Cullen, because… I. Am. Starving!" she jested before kissing me briefly.

"You two are on honey moon, si?" The cab driver asked after he'd turned around with a friendly smile while we stood at an intersection.

I replied back in Italian that we were here on vacation and noticed Bella shift in her seat just as I'd expected.

She looked about ready to skip dinner now.

"Ok, that was ridiculously hot. I'm not sure I'll be able to handle hearing you do that often," she warned with an accusing finger, making me laugh and smirk even wider. I shot her a devilish wink as my finale just as the cab stopped in front of the hotel.

We would be spending the first three nights and our last at the Westin Excelsior inside Rome, per my mother's suggestion. I hadn't informed Bella yet that we would be having dinner with her at the end of the week before we'd head back to the states. I knew she'd be thrilled; it wasn't because I thought she'd panic.

I was the one working on getting used to the idea.

Bella would be the first girl my mom would meet aside from Jane, who my mom never approved of. She'd done a flawless job at making that abundantly clear right from the very beginning of our relationship.

There was no question she would love Bella. She had to because I'd never loved anyone or anything else more in my life apart from my daughter. There was only one thing that worried me.

I hadn't told her about the pregnancy.

That would be the true test and I wanted her to meet Bella before she had time to dwell on how quickly we were starting a family together.

My sisters knew only because I'd needed their advice on breaking the news to our mother. They, of course, were ecstatic about meeting Bella and the baby bump at Jane's wedding. All three would be attending the ceremony.

Why my mother had insisted on going was unknown to me. Why Jane had even sent her an invitation was also a mystery. I guessed it had something to do with proving to her that she really had left me because she wanted to be with a woman and that there was no other reason. That it was never anything I had done. Whatever the case, I knew it would make for an interesting day and if Jane wanted my family there who was I to interfere with that? I'd be there with Bella so I'd be distracted regardless.

The bell boy met us at the taxi and ushered us inside once our bags were loaded onto the dolly.

"Welcome to Rome, Mr. Cullen and Ms. Swan. Your room is ready and dinner is being set up," the young boy informed us.

"Grazie," I thanked him and winced laughingly when Bella's finger nails penetrated into my arm again.

"Keep it up and we won't be able to get out of bed in the morning, and that Stalker, would be very disappointing." She tried keeping a straight face but fell flat as we stepped into the elevator. I jumped after she pinched my ass and vowed to get her back as soon as we were alone. "Plus, I'm still starving. I need to eat," she reminded while we walked out and down the hall.

"This is you, sir. The Villa La Cupola suite. May I ask if this is a special occasion?"

"No, just a nice getaway for me and beautiful Ms. Swan over here," I told the bell boy with a smack to Bella's ass. She gaped at me and fought back her amusement.

"Molto bella davvero."

I nodded in return before offering a quick 'Si' then shot Bella a wink, knowing even that one syllable Italian word would drive her mad. It was only natural that I'd use her weakness to my advantage.

Her gasp filled my ears once we stepped into our suite, a look more rewarding than she knew.

"Your meal is ready, sir. Shall I call down for some champagne?"

"Non necessario. Grazie ancora," I confirmed and made sure to stuff a generous tip into his open palm.

Bella carried on with her squealing as we were left alone and she spun around the red and gold room in front me, looking completely carefree. She was getting more adorable by the minute and it was doing bad, bad things to me and my frustrated cock.

I quickly reminded myself that I needed to let her eat first.

"Come. Let's eat."

"What's with the sudden rush Mr. Cullen?" She toyed while stepping around to open the patio doors for a view of the city.

"You, Ms. Swan, know exactly what the rush is." I started approaching her but she smirked at my advance and walked away in the opposite direction to avoid meeting my arms.

"You. Sit. Now," I commanded and indicated to the candle lit table in the center of the living room. She continued to grin and shake her head no.

"It looks like I have about three other rooms to get acquainted with, Edward."

"All in due time, Care Bear. I really, really need you to eat." She was messing with my head. Both of my heads, technically.

"But I—"

"Ora mangi per favore, l'amore."

"I'm sorry, what? I don't speak sex tongue," she said acting unbothered but incapable of stopping her knees from wobbling and her cheeks from becoming flush.

"Please eat now, my love," I repeated, this time in English.

"Yeah. Orders sound much sexier in Italian."

I laughed and surrounded her without warning, lifting her up into my arms and sending her into a fit of giggles.

"Oh my, Stalker." She'd obviously felt just how bothered she'd gotten me. "We better hurry. I don't want you poking any eyes out with that thing," she added before raining kisses down my neck and across my lips. I smiled against her mouth and breathed her in.

This is what I fucking live for. These moments with her.

"I love you. Thank you for this amazing trip. I still insist I don't deserve it. Not this trip, or you. None of it," she whispered after linking her hands behind my neck when I'd set her down at the dinning room table.

"Nonsense. This is only the beginning baby and you deserve more." I leaned in to kiss her nose before making my way around the table.

She sat and beamed at me with something new in her eyes. A look I hadn't seen before and one I wanted to see all the time now.

"Eat, baby."

She nodded and lifted her fork to take a bite of the calamari. I had to shift my weight to provide space for my ever growing hard on. Watching her eat was like foreplay ninety-nine percent of the time. Each bite was brought to her mouth in the most delicate and intentional way, to the point where I swore she was trying to fuck with me.

I dropped my utensils the second her plate was mostly empty and rounded the table to take her in my arms and into the bedroom.

"Time for dessert, amore della mia vita."

Bella wiggled in my arms and threw her head back with a chuckle. "Now you're just doing it on purpose."

I laid her down on the king-sized bed and covered her body with mine, powerless to wait anymore and latching our lips together. Her hands caressed my back from under my shirt intently as she slowed the kiss, making it more tender and euphoric. Her mouth moved against mine with purpose and my body responded.

I knew what she was asking for.

She wanted me to make love to her.

"Ti amo, bella. Siete il mio tutto. Sarete sempre. Non mai dubbio."

"What was that Stalker?" She asked with her eyes beaming up at me and a devilish smirk on her lips.

"I love you, beautiful. You are my everything. You will always be. Never doubt." I translated for her.

Staring down at her sparkling eyes there was no question I wanted her with me for the rest of my days. No question that there would never be another human being who could make me feel like she could. Smile or laugh or love the way she regularly did. No question that I'd done right in speaking to her on a rare quiet night in a subway. That I'd made the right choice in sticking around and waiting for her.

I took her fragile face in my palm and kissed her with as much love as I could. With all the love I had and always would have for her and only her.

There was no question. I was nothing without Bella. This week would be memorable for so many reasons and tonight was only the first night of magic that we would share here in Italy.

Before this trip was over my girl would know just how much I loved her.

I awoke startled to find Bella missing from our bed. She was nowhere to be found when I sat up and scanned the room. Slipping my boxers on, I went out into the main room to also find it empty before promptly realizing where she might be.

Sure enough Bella was tailor sitting on the wide ledge of the balcony, sketch book in her lap and pencil moving across its paper feverishly. She was in her own world.

Her mesmerizing beauty caused me to forget about breathing and I was panting before I knew it. As if on cue, she turned her head to look right into my eyes through the glass doors. A wispy piece of hair fell in front of her left eye and I watched as she pulled it back behind her ear using her pencil point as an extension of her hand while looking rather embarrassed.

So damn sexy.

She scooted her body off the ledge, her stare never leaving mine as she nibbled on her bottom lip and made her way inside to me.

"You're up," she breathed lightly and rested her hands on my chest.

"You can keep drawing. I'll call down for breakfast," I told her after kissing her forehead.

"No, we have too much to see. I can draw anywhere, almost anytime now," she affirmed proudly, hugging her sketch book to her chest. I smiled down at her and brushed some more loose hair behind her ear, then brought my hand to the back of her head while the other reached up towards the spiral binder of her book.

"And what exactly are we doodling today, Ms. Swan?" I asked tugging on the top of it playfully. She snickered and twirled her body away from me.

"Same old," she sang. I followed her into the sitting room where she flopped herself down onto the couch… still smirking and still biting that damned lip.

"Can I see?"

She always waited for me to ask but never denied me. It was almost as if she were afraid I wouldn't be interested, or like I only asked because I felt obligated to which wasn't the case at all.

"If it would please you, then you may look." She handed me the sketch book voluntarily.

I flipped through the pages I had already seen. One of me asleep in our bed back in the city, one of Alice with her engagement ring being featured, another one of me working in my office, a few of Bree from our visit to L.A. and then I reached my newest favorites.

The bump pictures.

The first one was of her, still flat-bellied and with her fingers crisscrossed in front of her. Her expression in this drawing worried me a bit but the illustration was still somehow peaceful.

The honesty in her eyes was breathtaking. I almost felt like I was looking directly into her soul when I looked at them. At the bottom of the picture were the words '7.5 weeks in… eating for 3'.

The next one was a portrait of just her torso, with her two hands creating a heart across her tiny exposed bump, and '8.5 weeks in… nothing to stop bumpage' written below it. I traced it with my finger and smiled up at her before turning the page.

There was no nine and a half week picture. I had my theories on why that was but I would never put her on the spot about it. Some things weren't worth pushing.

The next was a much more noticeable lump. It always caught me by surprise just how big of a change had actually occurred in a mere two weeks. Her drawing didn't lie. Again her face was cut out and it only showed her side profile, her hands resting against her belly with the words, '10.5 week hill-belly'.

"Hill-belly?" I chuckled and bumped her with my shoulder.

"It was! I could roll a marble off it then. Now I've got more of a… half a cantaloupe?" She answered herself with a laugh.

"Hardly Bella," I turned the page after rolling my eyes and leaning over to kiss her shoulder out of impulse.

This one was a full side profile of Bella and her stunning body. A slightly larger, more rounded baby bump from the previous sketch. Her face was more tranquil than I had seen in any other drawing she'd done of herself.

Her arms and hands again protected her torso lovingly. I outlined the image with my fingers the way I always did when I looked at her work and smiled at her skills.

She was overwhelmingly talented. The drawings looked like black and white photographs, not something someone created with a pencil.

"I'm not finished with it yet but that's my eleven point five weeker."

"What made you decide to mark it by half weeks?" I asked curiously, still staring down at the image.

"I don't know. I guess because we found out at a half week?" She shrugged.

She appeared to be calm and in a good place. It was the perfect time to tell her about my idea. She would either love it or hate it.

"Bella, I talked to James last week and the gallery opportunity came up again."

"Did it?" She was pretending not to care but I'd noticed the perk in her posture.

"He wants to put together some of your best work when we get back to show the gallery owner and I think I know what you should use." She squinted her eyes at me and started tugging on the fabric of her tank top nervously. It always made her anxious when we talked about showing her work.

"I think you should show her your pregnancy drawings. Offer it up as a series, if you will. All the way to the end."

"W-what?"

"These are amazing, baby. And the concept… people would go crazy over it."

"But… these are just supposed to be for me and you…" she stammered looking down at the drawing with panic on her face.

"They should be shared. These are really great, love. I'm telling you. It would cause a buzz," I continued, scooting myself closer to her so that I could take her hands into mine.

She remained quiet and that started to make me nervous.

"Baby, this is what I do. I push people to give the best they have and these drawings are… there are no words. You have to trust me."

She began bobbing her leg over her knee as her eyes looked ahead. I didn't want to say too much. I was afraid it would start to sound forceful and over played if I kept harping on how amazing the sketches were. She had to believe in herself, otherwise the entire experience would be tainted.

"You really think these are worthy of being displayed?"

"Yes, I do. I wouldn't be so persistent if I didn't," I ensured, sensing a change in her tone.

She was considering it and my inner-self was already celebrating.

"I'll think about it," she murmured shyly.

I quickly closed the book and placed it to my side before lifting her entire body up into my arms.

"Good. I'll take it. I really do think it's an amazing idea and I'm not just saying that because it was mine," I teased and leaned in to kiss her. She returned it and wrapped her arms behind my neck. My hands roamed her back and crossed the path to her ass, grabbing greedily and pulling her in tighter against my body and ever-growing cock.

"We need to get dressed, Mr. Cullen. I have to see the Colosseum today and have a real authentic Italian pizza," she cautioned me, sensing I had other plans.

"Ah, come on baby," I whined. "The Colosseum isn't going anywhere and it's not time for lunch yet." Bella laughed and quickly took my cue by biting on the lobe of my ear.

"Alright, alright. Fine. But we better be in a cab and on our way to sight-see in an hour," she replied semi-firmly.

Make sure your first counter offer is high, Cullen.

"Two hours?" I replied with a determined look.

"One, Edward."

"Hour and a half?"

She scrunched up her eyes and said nothing as she pretended to contemplate it, though she only did it to torture me.

"Hour and a half," she agreed.

I threw her a smirk feeling more than accomplished with my negotiating skills, "Perfectto."

A/N: And there you have it… see I can write a chapter without a cliffy. *smirk* Who'd a thunk it? (and yes that was the surprise)

Huge thanks to my beta CC for getting this chapter back to me so quickly and helping with some happy tear jerking moments. I *heart* you as always.

Please please please leave me your thoughts. Are we happy Jake is going away for awhile or do we think it will be short lived? How magical will this week be? Will Esme like Bella? So much to come in the next chapter I almost can't stand it!