Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters used in this story. Stephenie Meyer owns them all (lucky). I am just having some fun and gathering entertainment from them.

A/N…Check out the following website to see all of the pictures of costumes from this chapter and for my other stories.

http://picasaweb(dot)google(dot)com/edwardandbellabelong2gether

In addition, here are some links for the songs in this chapter. It will enhance the chapter if you give a listen while you read. I listened while I wrote.

Bust A Move by Young MC (when Chris is performing with Bella, Alice and Angela)

http://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=xy4FXhkm6Nw

How Will I Know by Whitney Houston (Bella singing to Edward)

http://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=aiJ_2zQYUFg

Just Want you to Know by The Backstreet Boys (Edward singing to Bella)

http://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=EDvRs3SceGo

Chapter 24

BPOV

May 2006

After that day back in February…I started going to the support group with Edward. I also went to individual counseling and Edward and I went to a "couples" kind of counseling session once a week.

It was not because we were a couple but because we were parents who had lost a child. We did not have to be together for this and it was with the same counselor who counseled Edward and me individually.

We had a hard time doing these things together at first…well I had a hard time. I was fighting getting close to Edward again every step of the way. I was not going to let the walls I had built crumble.

There was still the issue of him fucking Tanya while I was pregnant that we needed to work through together. This was a big one for me. Even though he had the tattoo representing our baby and all the things he did to show that he cared…I had a hard time believing he gave a crap when he spent all that time fucking Tanya while we were apart.

I knew what had happened because she made it known to me as soon as school started up in August.

She had cornered me in the bathroom one day to give me all the gritty details.

Flashback

I was just coming out of the bathroom stall and there was Tanya leaning against the sink with her arms crossed.

"Hey Bella. So glad to see you are back from Arizona."

Yeah sure she was. I ignored her.

I went to wash my hands and brushed past her. She grabbed my shoulder and flipped me so I had to look at her ugly face.

"Look bitch…don't think for one second that just because you're back you and Edward are going to be getting back together. He is mine."

"You can have him Tanya. We aren't together anymore. We haven't been for awhile so shut up."

"Oh I have had him. More than once. He was pounding into me the whole time…from the time he found out what a cheating whore you were up until the present. He fucks me hard and good. He told me I am the best he's ever had.

"He tells me that no one has ever made him cum as hard as I do or made him feel the things that he feels when he is inside of me. The day when you were lying in the hospital and your poor, poor baby was dying. He was on top of me, giving it to me good.

"He really didn't give a shit about you or that bastard child. He told me after you left that he was glad that you both were gone."

I just ran out of the bathroom that day. I could not help it and I did not have anything to say to her.

What the hell do you say to that? I felt pathetic.

End Flashback

That was why I taunted him the way I did after I returned. I did it because I was hurting and I wanted him to hurt. Even though Tanya told me the things she did, I knew that a part of Edward still wanted me.

Whether it was just for my body or something else…I knew he wanted me. You could see it in his eyes and that was why I tortured him.

That was why I hated myself for being sucked in and getting carried away on Valentine's Day. How could I believe that he truly cared and grieved after all that Tanya had told me?

Yet there I was, practically sucking his face off…about to give into him yet again.

During the therapy sessions that he and I went to together…it came out that Tanya was a lying whore. That particular session was very stressful. Edward and I were both in tears when it ended.

Neither of us could believe that I let the things Tanya said, affect me. We could not understand how I could believe her. The therapist explained that I was obviously in a bad place and I have self-esteem issues, especially where Edward was concerned.

Edward had a breakdown in the room because he realized the biggest part of the reason why I believed Tanya had nothing to do with my self-doubt at all. It was because of the things that he did and the way that he treated me. The way that he allowed Tanya to drape herself over him at school.

It made him hate himself even more, which the therapist said was not healthy because if either of us were to get passed anything…we needed to love ourselves first.

All in all, was relieved to find out the Tanya thing was not true.

I really felt like shit when I talked to Esme and she told me that when she went to find Edward on the day of the accident…Tanya was nowhere near him.

I felt stupid.

Why did I always doubt myself?

Edward was hurt that I believed Tanya and did not believe in him or his love for me. He stopped right after he said that.

The doctor and I were looking at him and waiting for it…

Finally, he said, "Oh…now I get it. Is that how I made you feel?"

I nodded.

"I am sorry Bella. I wanted you to hurt as I was hurting…I know that. I am responsible for this. This was my fault. I don't even know what to do to make it up to you. I don't know if I can if this is how I made you feel. It hurts and it is inexcusable that I did this to you!" he said to me.

The doctor explained to us that he was a firm believer in the fact that everything could be fixed. He told us he did not think we were anywhere near ready to be a couple.

He was not sure if we would ever be a couple again. He said that would be up to us but he thought that we could at least be friends. He also stressed that he thought it would be good for us to heal from our loss…together.

Once I found out that Edward had not slept with anyone but me and firmly believed that…I stopped fighting getting better.

I did get better.

I still loved my baby and I grieved over losing it. During my recovery, I was able to realize that Edward had truly lost our baby as well.

He might not have accepted it until he was forced to accept it…but regardless…he did lose something just as I had. I could see that now.

He was trying so hard to be the boy that he was when we first met as well as the man he was meant to be as an adult.

Over the last few months, I had even made up with Jasper and Alice after our fights. They apologized for being so hard on me.

Alice could not stop apologizing once Edward told her how upset I was by everything she said. I knew I needed to hear some of the things that she said but I had never known Alice to be outright cruel.

My pixie best friend told me that she just saw red after she saw Edward so broken after the locker room incident where I kissed him. She did not even want to think about him relapsing or dying. I could not fault her for looking out after her brother…if it was Jasper or Emmett…I would have done the same thing.

Jasper talked to me alone and he said that Emmett as well as our father sat him down and had a little chat with him.

He said they made him realize that he was wrong for the things he said to me…the way he approached me about getting help.

He explained that he saw my pain and was terrified that he was losing his sister. He knew that he should not have waited until Alice had blown up at me…but it just ended up happening that way. He also said he wished he had not worded things the way that he did…but he was scared out of his mind for me and did not know what to do.

Needless to say, the Swans had all joined on the therapy bandwagon as well. Everyone around here needed closure and to move on from everything…we had an amazing therapist.

I apologized to Jasper and Alice for being a bitch and not dealing with my issues. We were good now…especially after she had my back during an altercation with Tanya.

Flashback

Shortly after the egg incident, Tanya cornered me at my locker. I was running late to class and for whatever dumb reason, the stupid blonde was out in the hallway.

"Well…well…little Bella is out here all alone…hmmm…whatever should I do about that?" She sneered.

I slammed my locker door and tried to walk past her. "I just want to get to class Tanya. Leave me alone."

She pushed me back into my locker.

"I don't think so you ugly bitch! You have Edward wrapped around your finger and I am sick of it! Besides, I think a little payback is in order for that shit you pulled with that egg!"

"Really? I thought I was doing you a favor by shoving that in your face…it certainly was an improvement since you are one ugly ass bitch!" I laughed and tried to pass her again.

She shoved me into the locker once more…this time was more forceful and I fell to the ground with my books falling from my arms. The bell signaling class was over rang and the hallway filled with students.

Tanya was just about to hit me when I heard her yelp.

Edward had pulled her back and was grasping her shoulders firmly.

"What the fuck are you doing Tanya?"

"I'm trying to get her out of our way Eddie…so we can be together."

"We will NEVER be together Tanya and if you think that we will you are one delusional bitch!"

"But…Edward…it's just like before…you know…when you would let me say stuff to her…come on…for old time's sake."

"Listen to me carefully," Edward started. His voice was even, firm and he was practically growling. I had never heard him sound more pissed than he did in this moment.

He continued when Tanya nodded, "You are to stay away from Bella…for good. If I see you come near her again…I…will…end you! I will make you sorry you were ever fucking born Tanya. That shit I let you do to Bella before…it never should have happened. I hate myself for what I did to her…but I cannot change it.

"She is so much better than you…you are nothing. You are garbage. The way you talk to her…what you said about our child…you really think I would ever fucking touch you? You are crazy! Leave Bella alone. I was raised to never hit a woman…you should be thankful for that because there is nothing more that I would like to do right now than to kick your ass."

Alice rushed over when she saw what was happening and she helped me up off the floor. She heard the tail end of the conversation and she realized what Tanya had done to me.

She handed me her books and she looked at Tanya and said, "My brother might not be able to hit a woman but I sure as hell can!"

With that, Alice's fist met Tanya's face. Tanya's nose job was now shot to hell.

"You whore! You broke my fucking nose!" Tanya screeched at Alice.

Alice was laughing but then Tanya lunged at her as Edward made his way over to check on me. The students were screaming "Fight, fight, fight…" as Alice and Tanya went at it in the hallway.

Alice was winning.

Who knew she had it in her?

Principal Green made his way over to the scene and was yelling at them to break it up but they did not listen. He called for Edward to come over and detain his sister while one of the boys in the hallway pulled at Tanya.

"No one fucks with my family! Bella is family! You remember that you peroxide loving skank!" Alice screamed at her.

"Miss Cullen that will be enough," Principal Green told her.

"No it is not even close to being enough! She attacked Bella in the hallway! She deserved to get her ass kicked! I was doing a freaking favor to humanity!" Alice yelled.

"Alright, I want both of you in my office…this instant!" He told them.

"Must be nice to have someone else fight your battles for you Swan," Tanya said to me with venom in her voice.

I walked over to her and slapped her right across her perfect face that was now bleeding. I then spit at her for good measure.

She was making noises like she was disgusted that I had just spit at her. I did not care. It felt good to get that out with her.

"Miss Swan, you can join these two young ladies in my office," Principal Green told me.

"Yes sir," I said to him before turning back to Tanya.

"Tanya, I don't need them to fight my battles for me…they just choose to because they love me dearly…who loves you Tanya? It must be awful to never feel true love…as I feel…all the time…when I let them into my heart. I pity you."

Alice linked her arm in mine and we made our way to Principal Green's office. We could hear Tanya scoff behind us and the click of her heels as she started to follow.

Alice and Tanya were both suspended for two days. I only received two after school detentions for slapping Tanya.

Alice said it was totally worth it and she did not regret a thing.

End Flashback

Alice had joined in on the therapy as well. All of us were attending different individual sessions as well as one big family session. It was helping everyone heal and deal with issues that were there before all of this other stuff even started.

It was nice to have my best friend back in my life. I had missed her. She apologized for letting me down when I was pregnant. She told me that she failed me and even though she was in a tough position as Edward's sister…she was still my best friend and she should have supported me more than she appeared to do.

Of course, I forgave her. She was my Alice…my sister in just about every way.

However, I was currently quite irritated with said sister. She entered Edward, herself and me into the senior talent show.

I did not want to…but she was a forceful little pixie. The seniors always had a senior talent show before finals the last week in May. We were graduating and I was so excited.

Senior talent show, finals and graduation were all we had left. Prom had been in April. Jasper could not get away from school or work to take Alice…so we took each other…just the two of us.

It was fun. It was nice to spend the night bonding with my best friend. I had missed her terribly.

Edward skipped prom all together.

That made me sad. Alice and I had a blast with Chris and Angela so I could not concern myself with Edward's prom issues.

For the talent show…Alice, Angela and I were supposed to do a song with Chris…which we had been working on for weeks. We were finally ready…I hoped.

I had also been working on my solo song. It was actually something for Edward. I was going to give him some hope. I was not sure how he would interpret the song. I just prayed that he listened to the words. I needed him to know how I was feeling and I was hoping to project that through the song.

A part of me felt that one day we would be passed this and be together again. Then there was the part of me…the rather large part of me that feared it would be impossible.

EPOV

My scary, persistent pixie of a sister got me to enter the senior talent show. I did not want to but…I found a song that I wanted to sing and dedicate to my Bella so maybe it would be worth it after all.

I had been working on this song forever. I felt like it was perfect by now. However, I also knew that Alice, Bella, Angela and Chris were going to be performing a song together. It would probably be sexy as hell and make me all hot and bothered for my Bella.

Damn it Alice.

This was all her doing.

Things had been going so well in therapy for all of us. Bella and I were getting so much out in the open.

I wanted to murder Tanya when I found out what she told Bella in the bathroom…about me having sex with her.

I never put my dick inside that skank.

The way it felt…when Bella was flaunting her body in front of me all those times throughout the year…that was how I made her feel when I was flaunting Tanya at her.

Except it was worse for my angel…she had to endure watching me allow Tanya to hug on me, sit on my lap and put her hands on my upper body.

Bella was only throwing her gorgeous body in my face. She was not being purposely cruel by forcing me to watch her with another guy…as I did to her.

I did not deserve her.

I knew this.

We had been working hard and it was safe to say…we were friends again…good friends.

But if she would let me…if she could grace me with her beauty once more…I would spend the rest of our lives making up to her the ways that I had previously hurt or wronged her.

If she would only be mine again…no…not mine…she was not a possession…I tended to be possessive of her. I did not mean to…I just loved her so fucking much.

Not if she would be mine…if she would give me one chance…I would be hers…body and soul.

Day of Senior Talent Show

EPOV

The senior talent show was today. Emmett, Jasper and Rose came into town for it since they were finished with their semester already.

They allowed me to sit at the table with them. Rose probably forced the issue. I had messed up everything but somehow by the grace of god…my family still loved me.

We were waiting for Chris's performance. I knew this was his performance and the girls were just assisting as backup singers and dancers. We did not know what song he was performing.

Then I heard the music…and then I saw them…more specifically…her. I had to sit on my hands to control them.

Oh…my…god.

She looked so fucking hot.

They were all dressed as sexy gangsters.

Fucking help me.

Bella's outfit looked so fucking good on her. It was tight and revealing, leaving me panting as well as wanting to go up and bite her ass.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

They were up on the stage belting out Young MC's Bust a Move and Bella looked so damn sexy. Chris was doing all the rapping and the girls were singing the small female parts.

I was surprised the principal allowed them to dance the way that they were dancing. It was provocative and seductive.

Actually, the way Bella was moving should have been illegal. Her brothers were torn. I could see the lust in Jasper's eyes for my sister…which I did not need to see. However, if he were thinking clearly, he would probably have been insane with anger for his sister dressing and dancing that way in front of the entire school.

Emmett was pissed looking up at his sister on the stage. Rose had never looked more proud of her girls than she did right now in this moment.

I did not think this would have bothered me as much if I could have still called Bella mine. Then everyone would know whom she was going home with and that would be the end of that.

Luckily, Jasper did not take his eyes off Ali…otherwise, some of the guys in our class would be dead for looking at Bella the way they were.

Probably me included.

I heard someone at a table behind us…I think it was Mike Newton.

"Oh my fucking god…Swan is so damn hot. I just want to bury my head between her legs."

Emmett clenched his jaw and his hands turned into tight fists. He turned around and glared at Newton and said, "Uh hey…asshole…Swan's brothers are sitting right here so shut the fuck up unless you want to get pounded into next week and not in a good way."

That shut his mouth quickly.

Thanks Em. I always knew you were my favorite of Bella's brothers.

Jasper was oblivious to everything around him, as he still had not taken his eyes off my twin. Lord, I did not want to know what was going through his head right now.

Thankfully, the song was finally over as was the torture. I had to calm my raging hard on and get ready for my song. I was up after the next person. I headed to the back and prayed that this would get through to Bella.

I knew this song was one of her favorites and I wanted her to know how I felt about being apart from her.

BPOV

After we helped Chris with his song…which was fun and went really well I might add…we got changed and went to sit out at the table with my brothers and Rose.

The next act was finished. I was not really paying attention to them anyway. I noticed Edward was not sitting at our table any longer. Then I saw my former love up on the stage getting ready to sing.

He was standing at the microphone and he looked nervous.

Alice did not tell me that he was performing a song. I looked over at her and she smirked. Emmett had a concerned look on his face and Jasper looked pissed.

Then I heard his velvety voice on the microphone, "This goes out to someone very special to me. Someone who means more to me than anything else in the world. This is for you Bells. You will always be my angel…and I just want you to know…"

Then he started singing.

It was Just want you to Know by the Backstreet Boys.

I thought back to the day we met.

I had bumped into him coming out of the office. He was so kind and sweet…he was my Edward. I remembered our first date.

We could not keep our hands away from each other all night.

He knew that I loved this song. He would always tell me I had him wrapped around my finger and his thoughts revolved around me constantly.

I knew what he was trying to tell me. He would not change the way we loved one another…even through all the heartache…he would still want to be with me. He was telling me how hard it was for him to try to let me go.

He let me slip away from him and he regretted it terribly. I could feel it in my soul, the way he felt about me.

He wanted me back so badly.

Could I do it? Could I take Edward back into my life as my lover…my boyfriend?

I really wanted to but I just did not know if I could.

I did not know what to do about our situation.

His song was ending and I knew that I had to go to the back to get ready for mine. I also had to think whether I was going to do a last minute song change.

I was hoping after he heard the song I was singing…he would realize how scared I was about getting hurt once again.

But I wanted him to know that I still loved him as he loved me.

As I made my way closer to the stage, I could see tears glistening in Edward's eyes as he finished the song.

His song was over and he headed back to our table with our families.

As I made my way onto the stage…I had made my choice.

My music started and I began.

EPOV

I hoped that Bella liked the song and that she heard what I was saying. I prayed she would give me another chance.

I saw my angel up on the stage and heard the music. I was not completely familiar with this song so I decided to sit and listen to the words she sang. I recognized it as a Whitney Houston song from the eighties that my mom used to listen to but that was all I really knew about it.

I thought it was called How Will I Know.

When she sang the first verse, she was looking directly at me and smiling in between the words.

I knew now without any doubt my Bella was up there singing her heart out about us…to me.

If I understood what she was saying…I knew she still loved me now. Unfortunately, she was scared to let me into her heart again.

As the rest of the song played out she made her way down the stage and over to our table while she was still singing.

When the song was over, she was standing right before me.

She sat down on my lap and said, "I love you Edward…but how will I know…that it's real…and you won't let me down again?"

"I love you too Bells. You'll know because I will bend over backwards to show you every fucking day!" I answered her with conviction.

She nodded and spoke softly but firmly.

"You're getting your chance," she smiled.

"That's all I ask for."

"If you fuck it up…that's it. I won't give you another one."

"Fair enough," I said as I pressed my lips gently to hers.

I heard a chair push away from the table along with Jasper's voice, "You have got to be fucking kidding me Bella. A song is all it takes to let this no good fucker back in your pants."

Alice stood up quickly and was in Jasper's face. I heard a smack. She had slapped him. "Stop talking about my brother like that Jasper. You need to get over yourself and let Bella make her own damn decisions. Stop trying to fucking control her! This will never work between us if you do not cut my brother some slack! He is trying which is more than I can say for you Jasper Swan!"

She stormed out of the cafeteria. Jasper stormed off in the opposite direction. Emmett went after Jasper while Rose went after Alice.

Bella and I just sat there. She was on my lap and our arms were around each other tightly while we pressed our foreheads together and stared at one another.

"There's going to be fallout from this," she said to me.

"I know."

"But I love you."

"I love you too and I don't care about the fallout," I said honestly.

"Can we make this work Edward?" she asked me softly.

"I am going to fucking die trying baby. I want this. I want us. I love you too much to ever let you go without a fight."

"Me too…but…we are seriously fucked up. You know that right? The both of us."

"Yeah I do know and I don't fucking care. All I care about is that you are in my arms. We can do this and nothing or no one else matters. Just you and me Bells."

"That sounds nice."

I meant every word I said.

I hoped that she did as well.

A/N…Reviewers will get a teaser of Chapter 25. It will be posted on Thursday 1/7/10…if not sooner!

Thanks to dolphin62598!