Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended.

Beta: Pamela – Thank you very much for your help!

Chapter 25

EPOV

"NO! No, no, no. Bella! I've been at the hospital. Honest. I am not cheating on you. God, I love you more than my own life. How could you even think that?"

I chased after her down the hallway to the other bathroom.

"Please, Edward. Just tell me you want a divorce, don't do this to me. Tell me we made a mistake, that we rushed into things, don't cheat on me."

I dropped to my knees and when I reached out to touch her, she recoiled as if I burned her.

"Bella, we didn't make a mistake. I don't want a divorce. I want you. I want 'us'. I haven't been cheating on you. I love you. Please don't send me away. Please, talk to me."

Then it happened, just as she was turning toward me, a little bit of hope in her eyes, my fucking phone rang again. And again. Four times it rang and there was a short pause before it started ringing again. We just knelt there on the floor looking at each other. Whatever decision I made was going to affect the rest of my life.

The phone rang again, four more times with a pause and then started again.

I couldn't think. The ringing was driving me insane. I turned to retrieve my phone to get rid of the intrusion and caught Bella's movement out of the corner of my eye. I looked back at her and saw the most heartbreaking sight of my entire life.

Bella looked straight into my eyes and I saw it all. Everything I never wanted to see.

My life, destroyed.

My marriage, destroyed.

My wife, my love, my future, destroyed.

Destroyed.

By me.

I knelt on the floor with my mouth open, unable to move or say anything, frozen in fear.

Bella lifted up my hand and I initially thought she would intertwine our fingers, that we would be okay.

Until I felt them.

They were smooth and jagged at the same time. She put them in the palm of my hand and curled my fingers around them.

Her rings. My rings. Our rings. The symbol of our marital union.

"I-I can't d-do this anymore," Bella whispered as she crawled away, attempting to suppress a sob.

I was frozen in my spot. How did my life get so out of control and why couldn't I move.

"FUCK! . . . Bella, wait."

Her whole body seemed to crumble as she broke into a full out sob and darted into the open bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her.

"FUCK!" I screamed and went for my phone.

"What? What is so damn important that you have to call me a thousand times when I told you I was in the middle of something?"

"Edward, what is going on?"

"Carlisle, I can't do this right now. My. . . my . . . just, I can't. My life is falling apart. . . Shit, what do you need?"

"Edward, we need you in the ER. There was a major car accident and everyone is in surgery. There are children involved and I need an extra set of hands. How soon can you get here."

"Carlisle, I can't come in. Bella just pointed out that I have spent 126 hours this week at the hospital. I just can't come in. I have something very important going on here and I just can't come in right now."

"Just for a little while. I promise it won't be all day."

"You don't know what you are asking of me. Please don't make me come in, don't put me in this position." I gripped and pulled at my hair, begging for some sort of relief.

"Edward, I need you for a few hours."

I took a deep steadying breath. "URGGGGG." I threw my phone against the floor.

I walked the couple steps to the bathroom door and tried the door handle. I heard the water running and knew that Bella wouldn't be able to hear me through the door, so I went to the other bath and shed my clothes, jumping in for a quick shower.

After I toweled off, I picked up her rings that I had set down on the dresser and just stared at them. A few tears ran down my cheeks. I gently laid them on top of her jewelry box. Maybe she would put them back on later.

How was I going to tell her that I was headed back to the hospital?

How could I convince her that I wasn't choosing the hospital over her?

How was I going to look into her eyes and break her heart all over again?

Right then and there I decided that I was putting in my two-week notice as soon as I saw Carlisle. Hopefully I would still be married to Bella when the two weeks are up.

BPOV

As I was soaking in the tub, my sobs finally coming under control, I heard Edward at the door.

"Bella? Honey, I'm more sorry than you will ever know, but I have to go to the hospital. There was a major accident and Carlisle said that there were children involved. I need to be there for some of their surgeries." His voice was all gravelly as if he had been crying.

I heard his head hit the door and a muffled sniffle.

"Please, Bella . . . Please let me make it up to you. I love you with my whole being. You are my reason to live. Can we talk later? I haven't cheated on you. Carlisle said that it would only be a couple of hours. . . I'll be back as soon as I am out of surgery. . . Bella . . . I love you."

I wanted his words to be true. I wished with all my heart that what he was saying was the truth. That he wanted me.

That he wanted us.

There was silence from the other side of the door, but I knew he was still standing there.

Waiting.

Waiting for something that I couldn't give him right now. Waiting for reassurance. Reassurance that we were going to be okay.

I couldn't do it. I couldn't do anything. I laid there with tears streaming down my face just wishing this wasn't happening to me.

I love Edward with everything that I am, but cannot remain in a relationship where it is all one-sided.

After a few moments, I heard his hand run down the door and he sighed. "I love you, Bella," he whispered.

I mouthed the words without sound, "I love you, too."

A short while after he left, I finished my bath and slowly crawled out of the tub after all of the water had gone down. I lightly dried myself off, crawled down the hallway to my bedroom, slipped under the covers of my bed, snuggled in and cried myself to sleep.

o ~ O ~ o

I studied for a while in the afternoon.

Elizabeth and Ed Sr. showed up with dinner and we sat in the living room for a while afterward. He agreed to remove my cast next weekend when he comes down as long as I promised not to put any weight on it until the screws were removed. I would need to wear and Velcro boot, but at least I could take a bath and start back on my path towards a normal life.

Jasper came over after dinner to have me sign some of the paperwork for the trial of Victoria and the incident involving Tanya.

Ed and Elizabeth left shortly thereafter to return to Port Angeles, promising to call everyday during the week. They were scheduled to close on their new house next weekend, so before they left, I talked Elizabeth into not coming this week so that she could pack. I may have left her under the impression that Edward was going to be around.

Jasper and I continued our discussion about both cases when I finally got the nerve to ask, "Jasper, I know that you and Edward are friends and I guess I don't know how to ask this, but . . . well, since you represent both Edward and I on different matters, whose attorney are you?"

"Both of yours, why?"

"Well, let's say that there was a divorce, who could retain you for representation?"

"Bella . . . are you two thinking of divorcing?"

"Well, I don't know about Edward because I never see or talk to him, so I guess you could say that I am considering divorce. I don't want to stay in a one sided relationship. I deserve more than that. Actually, if you are still going to represent me on my employment issues, I think I would like to go back to flying once I am given the medical go ahead. I only agreed to the check airmen position because it would give me more time with Edward, but that doesn't seem to be necessary anymore."

"Oh, Bella, I am so sorry." He leaned over and gave me a big hug. "I don't know what to say. Could you do me one big favor before you make any permanent decisions?" I nodded. "Talk to Edward. I have known him a long time and I know that he loves you with everything he has."

"I really wish I could believe that, but actions speak a lot louder than words."

"Give him a chance to explain whatever it is that is going on before you make any decisions and if you still want to go through with it, I will give each of you a referral. I won't pick sides."

"Thank you, Jasper."

"You're welcome." He leaned over and hugged me once again. "I'll talk to you soon. . . Oh, I almost forgot, I wanted to thank you for introducing me to your friend, Alice. We went out the other night and have another date for when she is home this week. She's a great girl. Thank you." And with that he left me alone again.

I got a bowl of ice cream and then got ready for bed.

Edwards promise of a couple of hours had turned into 13 by the time I finally crawled back into my empty bed and drifted off to a restless sleep.

o ~ O ~ o

EPOV

Leaving Bella at the house without resolving our issues was the hardest thing I have ever done. I prayed the whole way to the hospital that she was going to give me the chance to make it up to her, to give us another chance.

I knew I was never going to give up on us.

I got slammed at the hospital and performed surgeries on four different children. I had just finished the last surgery when I realized that I had been at the hospital for 14 hours.

Just as I was headed out the door, I noticed Carlisle approaching.

"Carlisle, could I have a word?"

"Sure, Edward, what's up?"

"I can't do this anymore and wanted to give you my one week notice. The practice should be up and running soon, and I need to focus on getting that done as quickly as possible. I know that it should be two weeks, but I'll be in L.A. next week and don't see any reason to come back in after that."

"I understand. Wait a minute. Have you been here this whole time, from when I called you this morning?"

"Yeah."

"Damnit, Edward! How could you do that to Bella? You promised her a couple of hours. You at least called her didn't you?"

"Umm, well . . . no. I didn't have time. How could I do that to Bella? You kept throwing surgeries at me. It's your fault I was even here at all today."

He ran his hands through his hair and gripped it tightly.

"Did you talk last week after she got stuck in the bathroom and called me to get her out?"

"Wait, what do you mean that she called you to get her out? Why didn't she call me?"

"You are never available to her. Edward, she is a mess over you and the situation that you have created. Did you not learn anything from my mistakes? Fuck. She was talking about going back to regular flying as soon as she is healed. She mumbled something about transferring to another city and selling the condo as she drifted off to sleep."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? I would have never come in today!" I didn't even tell him goodbye. I just sprinted for the doors, then to my car in the parking lot.

My brain ran a thousand miles a minute. Bella wanted to move to another city. She wanted away from me. Away from us.

For the second time today, I found myself with tears running down my cheeks.

o ~ O ~ o

By the time I got home, Bella was already in bed and asleep. I debated on waking her so that we could talk or so that she would know that I was there with her or to let her sleep, and my selfishness won out.

"Bell, I'm home. I wanted to let you know that I was here and that I am going to be here for you from now on." I kissed her on the head and snuggled into her. "I love you so much. Please don't give up on me yet."

She never opened her eyes and I couldn't really tell if she was awake or not, but she mumbled "So . . . alone. Miss . . . so much."

o ~ O ~ o

I awoke Sunday morning to an empty bed. I quickly scrambled to my feet and went running out of the bedroom to find Bella.

She was downstairs in the middle of the living room floor reading her aircraft manuals.

"Morning, honey."

"Edward," she said without turning away from her books. "What are you still doing here?"

"I don't have to go into work until later today." I lay down on the floor beside her and rested my hand on the small of her back.

"When has that ever stopped you from being there 24 hours a day?" Bella finally looked at me and I was devastated by what I saw.

There was so much pain in her eyes. My breath caught in my throat.

"Honey, I-" I started but was interrupted by a knock on the door, then Carlisle letting himself in.

"Hello?"

"In here," we both responded at the same time.

Carlisle came into the living room and sat down on the couch.

"Just wanted to make sure you weren't stuck behind the toilet again."

"Ha, ha. You're so funny. Don't give up your day job, you wouldn't make it as a comedian," Bella said as she turned to sit up, and threw a pillow at him.

"So, what happened?" I asked, slightly irritated that I wasn't there to help her and she needed to call Carlisle.

"I may have had a little too much wine and got a little light headed when I was getting out of the bath tub and the next thing I knew I had one arm pinned under my body and my head was behind the toilet. With the cast, I couldn't get myself out, so I had to call Carlisle."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I did," she whispered and looked away from me.

"So, you were naked?"

"Yes, I was completely naked, except for my cast. I don't normally bathe with clothes on. Your Uncle got to see my deformed body in all its glory."

"You are not deformed," I quickly replied.

"How would you know? When was the last time you saw my body?" she bit back.

I had to think for a moment. When did I really see her last?

"Bella, I must tell you that you are one of the sexiest women on the planet," Carlisle stated proudly.

My head snapped over to look at him and steam started pouring out of my ears when I saw the grin on his face.

"Uncle of mine, why are you looking at my naked wife."

"Oh, nephew of mine, not only did I look at her, I also touched her and held her. I have learned a few things from my mistakes."

"What the fuck, old man. I think it's time you go. Let me show you to the door." I jumped up from the floor and started escorting Carlisle to the door.

He shouted over his shoulder, "Call me anytime you need me Bella, and let's keep it clothing optional."

I followed him onto the front porch, closing the door behind me, and ran my hand through my hair. "What was that all about?"

"Edward, relax, I'm not trying to take her away from you, only trying to get you to see what is in front of you and what you might lose if you don't open your eyes. Did I get your attention?"

"Yes, you did."

He started down the steps and turned around. "I forgot the reason I came over. I have a couple of interviews this afternoon for your position. I would like you to sit in on them."

"If you want me to, I guess I could come in."

"Great. First one is at one."

o ~ O ~ o

When I got back into the house, Bella was nowhere in sight, but I heard the bath water running. I quickly ran up the stairs and to our bedroom.

I lightly knocked on the bathroom door, "Bella, can I come in?"

She responded with a soft "Yes."

I opened the door to find her in the tub with her casted leg hanging over the side.

I knelt beside the tub and grabbed the bath wash and the puffy thing that she used. I squeezed a dollop onto the puffy thing and started working it into a lather. Without even giving it a conscious thought, I started washing my beautiful wife.

"Bell, I love you. You are the most important thing in my life. I know that I haven't behaved in that manner, but things are going to change. I know that we really need to talk. Can we put aside some time later to talk about what is going on?" I pleaded with my eyes.

"You mean that you are actually going to be around today? While I am awake?"

"I should be. Carlisle asked if I would sit in on the interviews today, so I need to go in for a little while, then starting tonight, I work midnights all this week."

"What kind of interviews?"

"For my position."

"You're really quitting?" She looked surprised.

"Yeah, I gave my one week notice last night. Why?"

"Just a little surprised, that's all." I saw a slight smile on her face.

We talked a little more, but not really about what is going on between the two of us and the hospital. I didn't want to get into a conversation that would have a time limit.

I helped her out of the tub and got her dressed. What I really wanted was to worship her body and make love to her for the rest of the day.

I made us a quick lunch and cleaned up afterward.

When I was ready to go to the hospital for the interviews, I stopped at Bella on the couch in the living room and asked her if she would wear her rings again. She hesitantly agreed and I slipped them back on her finger. I knew that I was skating on thin ice, but it was a step in the right direction.

I kissed her goodbye, trying to pour everything that I felt into that kiss, and promised that I loved her and would see her soon.

o ~ O ~ o

A/N: Well, what do you think? Is the storm over? Will Bella forgive and forget? Or will . . ? I can't say. . . sorry. Until next time, leave me some love in the form of a review / guess.