Edward

There was knocking at the door. My head was pounding and there was a bra wrapped around my head.

"Who is it?"

"It's me daddy and mommy!" said Nessie.

"Hold on sweetie!" I shouted back, regretting it.

I nudged Bella and she turned over. She was naked. I was naked. I thought last night was just a dream. I looked at my arms to make sure I was actually awake not. The scratches and claw marks were there. So were the bruises. We had to world's angriest sex last night.

"Daddy! Hurry up! Mr. Ralph and Emmett are cooking flapjacks shaped like grapes!"

"Coming in a minute baby. Why don't you go save me and mommy a seat?"

"Okay."

"Bella! Bella wake up!"

"Go away! My head hurts!"

"We had sex last night."

"What?!"

She rose up.

"Oh my goodness…you raped me?"

"Neither one of us was sober so you could have been the one raping me Swan."

"This isn't a big deal. It's not like we haven't had sex before."

"We're divorced Bella."

"I know… I know. You don't have any diseases do you?"

"No. Do you?"

"No! How could you ask me that?"

"How could you ask me that?" I replied.

"Well…you have a history of promiscuity."

She suddenly started laughing.

"What?" I asked.

"You have a shiner."

"You gave me a black eye? I wasn't dreaming that part?"

"I guess not. This is crazy. I'm going to shower."

I threw my feet over the bed and gravity proved how much it hated me. When the spinning in my head calmed down I went over to the dresser mirror and I looked at myself. I was bruised from head to toe with feathers in my hair. Where did the feathers come from? I didn't see any busted open pillows or down comforters. Did we kill a chicken?

I wasn't putting on makeup so I decided to tell everyone I fell into something as an excuse for my black eye and bruises. When we got downstairs everyone was talking and laughing then silence ensued.

"Mommy, daddy, you finally made it! The eggs are shaped like flowers!"

"That's neat baby." said Bella.

"Sleep well?" asked Ralph

"Yes sir… very well." I said.

"Good… good to hear that. From what I heard everybody else heard it too."

Bella pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. Her face was tomato red. This was embarrassing.

"Alright everyone…show's over. Eat your coffee and drink your flapjacks." Said Alice.

"Hun… I think you meant it the other way around." said Jasper

"I know that… I know what I meant." She said.

The food was good. I couldn't deny that much. Emmett and Ralph could cook. I still wonder what made them fall out in the first place. Emmett has never really talked about it. Not that it's any of my business anyway.

This evening is the first rehearsal and today we got pick up our tuxes. I can only hope mine fits. Nothing's worse than high-water pants with dress shoes.

Bella

I cannot believe that happened. I'm not drinking anymore on this trip, that's for sure. I had sex with Edward. I feel horrible, like I've betrayed Garrett in some kind of way. It hasn't even been a full year since his passing and I've had sex with my ex husband. What's wrong with me?

After breakfast I went to the room. I had two hours before dress fitting. I went into the backroom and I locked the door. The tears started to flow. I'm so confused and I feel horrible. Not just physically from the hangover, but emotionally.

"Bella, honey I know you're crying. Open the door." Said Rosalie.

"No…"

"As your temporary employer I demand it. As your friend I'm begging you."

I unlocked the door and she came in.

"Why the tears?"

"It's only been eight months and I've already had sex with someone else."

"You were both drunk and familiar to each other. I know you loved my brother. There's no doubt about that and he knew it too but you can't beat yourself up about little things like this. He's not here anymore and it's not like you're defaming him or trying to forget him."

"But I'm scared Rosalie."

"Of what?"

"I don't know. I'm just still scared. Of everything."

"Well… that's okay. We all get scared sometimes. Now…get yourself together and get ready to try on your dress along with a few ugly ones."

She left and I got dressed in a pair of jeans with a tee shirt and chucks. Simplicity was the theme. Afterwards I went out to the gazebo on the lake. I noticed there were lots of turtles in the water. I liked that.

"This is beautiful." Said Edward

"Yeah… it is. That's why when I got pictures of the property I knew Rose and Emmett needed to get married right in this gazebo so that the beauty of the land could just engulf them."

"I'm sorry Bella."

"Me too Edward. I was drunk and right now I'm confused and lonely and I just acted without thought. I didn't mean to."

"Me too. I'm just lonely."

"Why don't you date?"

"Funny thing… nobody acts quite like you."

"Will you ever move on from me?"

"No. Maybe that makes me pathetic or pitiful but I don't care."

"You know it'd never be the same."

"I wouldn't expect it to be. We aren't the same people."

"Maybe one day Edward."

"One day."

"But not today, tomorrow or next week."

I left the gazebo and I went into the house. Nessie was sitting in the kitchen alone eating chocolate ice cream. Breakfast wasn't that long ago so I know she can't be hungry.

"Honey… what are you doing in here?"

"Hiding. I don't wanna play anymore. I wanna stay with you mama."

"You're sure you don't wanna play even a little?"

"Nope."

"Well… maybe if you go beg Rosalie to let you tag along I can sneak you out."

"Okay! Great!"

"Oh honey, knock first!"

"Okay!"

She walked briskly up the stairs and I took over her ice cream.

Bella, Garrett and Nessie were at the park walking around for excercise. Afterwards Nessie was watching the ducks while Garrett and Bella sat on a bench talking.

"I think people can change." He said. "I've seen it… just takes the right circumstances and realizations."

"I don't think so. I think they have the better qualities in them all along and the circumstances just force them to let the better ones show."

"So you're saying the old dog already knows the new tricks… he's just not using them?"

"Yes."

"Interesting."

"Mom and Garrett! Look, there's a duck with ducklings in a row!"

Bella loved the times she spent with Garrett and Nessie in the park just talking to him and watching her child. They were priceless and the conversations were profound. It was almost like philosophy or something. They were also effortless. Everything with Garrett was effortless. He was easy to fall in love with and he easily etched himself a permanent space on her heart. She wanted to easily spend the rest of her life with him… that was for sure.