Edward came back home from two months ago. Ever since he came back w have been walking on egg shells around each other, talk mostly only when necessary, sleep in separate bedrooms and generally are not at the house at the same times. When I'm there he's usually out with the kids or at the studio or at Emmet or Jasper's house and when he is there I'm usually out working or spending time with friends.

Alice had a healthy baby girl named Candice Marie about seven weeks ago. All of the kids have already fallen in love with their baby cousin, Arabelle loves to hold her and act like she is her baby sister. Alice and Jasper have both been freaking out because they're new parents but both Rosalie and I have been trying to calm their nerves telling them everything will be ok.

Angela's wedding is in two months and the majority of the planning is complete and everything has come together really well. Right now, everything in my life seems to be going well, minus the thing with Edward but that isn't as bad as it used to be. After we had that talk in Europe things have gotten a little better, we're at least civil to each other now.

Tonight, the kids are staying at Emmet and Rosalie's so that Edward and I can talk. He is at the studio right now, but he should be home in a couple minutes. With each minute I begin getting even more anxious. This talk could determine the future that lies ahead for Edward and I. We have to make the choice of continuing to try and make this thing get better or give up and get divorced and become another Hollywood stereotyped couple, another statistic.

I heard the front door shut and Edward take off his caught and shoes before making his way into where I'm sitting in the kitchen. "Hey" he said when he saw me sitting at the table.

"Hey, how was the studio?"

"Really well. I think we have some really good songs for the album."

"Did you get a lot done today?"

"Yeah, we worked really well today. It was awesome, it felt so good to be back in the studio again after being on the road for so long."

"I bet." I watched as Edward walked to the fridge to get something to drink, "The kids are already at Emmet and Rosalie's so we can talk."

"Ok, when do you want to talk?"

"Whenever your ready I guess. Sooner we do it, the sooner we get it over with."

"Right now?"

"Uh, sure" I said closing the top on my laptop.

"Den or right here?"

"The table is fine I guess." I pushed away the papers I was working on so Edward could sit down. He sat down but didn't say anything, "So" I said to push the conversation forward.

"Well, let's get this over with." he said, not in a way that sounded like he was rushing, just in a way that told me he didn't want to be having this conversation anymore then I did.

"Ok, I don't really know who to start this off." I said unsure of myself.

"How about we talk about what's been going on since we last discussed this?"

"Ok that can work, but other then this conversation, nothing else has really be going on. We're not making any progress it seems like."

"Is that how you feel?"

"Yeah? I mean we're not sleeping in the same room and we hardly talk except when it's necessary or when we want to make the kids think things are fine. Do you think that's progress?"

"No I don't but it also doesn't help that we are both really busy."

"Right, but we can make time to try and work things out, there are times when I'm sitting at the house watching television while your out with your friends when you could be here talking to me or something."

"Yeah and there are times when your not here because your off with James or Melissa or some other friend when you could be here trying to make things work."

"So now the blame is on me?"

"I never said that. I just said that we're both to blame for not making the time, but it's not like your trying to make any big changes in your life style to make it look like your willing to make this work."

"Really? How is that?"

"You hang out with James a lot or work till six or seven at night at work."

"I'm at work because I have a lot to do, I'm constantly busy. You of all people should know that concept."

"I do understand that concept, but you could bring your work home and do it here."

I let out a laugh to try and hide the frustration in me, "Bring my work home? I do bring my work home Edward. What do you think all of this stuff is right here?" I said pointing to the papers that were all over the table. "I left work at five today after almost nine hours and I still brought stuff home to do! I hardly get stuff done when I'm home because I have to take care of the kids because your rarely here to take care of them."

"I'm here a lot taking care of those kids when they aren't in school."

"Really? Do you know what Arabelle got on her spelling test the other day?"

"Sure, she got a B."

"No, she got an A plus."

"Well she never told me."

"Yes she did, but you were too busy thinking about the album or something probably. I was sitting right here when she told you over dinner the other night."

"So now this is about the album? Things haven't been improving because I've been at the studio working on the album?"

"Your rarely home unless you have to be because I'm working. You don't spend too much extra time with the kids and you certainly don't hang around here."

"You would rather me just hang around the house and do nothing when I could be at the studio working on an album which will sell which will make money which allows you and the kids to have this kind of lifestyle."

"Why do you always use that line?"

"What line?"

"The 'I have to work this hard to make all this money so that you and the kids can have this kind of lifestyle' line. You've been using that one forever and it's getting really damn old."

"Well it's true, I am the primary money maker in this household."

"Yeah because your in the entertainment business, you make millions of dollars a year. But it's not as if I'm sitting on my ass doing nothing all day."

"I know you work hard! I never said you didn't"

I got pissed off a Edward and slammed my hand down on the table, "See damn it! This is why we don't get anywhere. This is why we still fucking hate each other, because everything we do resorts in a fight about some stupid shit like who works harder or who makes more money. This shouldn't be about it. That has NOTHING to do with our relationship. Unless your trying to imply that I only married you for the money."

Edward's faced changed immediately, "That's not that I'm trying to say." he said carefully, "I know your not like that. But you attacked me, saying that I wasn't there for the kids and I felt like I had to defend myself."

I looked at Edward for a second, no progress has been made since our last talk. We still fight and we can't work out our problems. We're dysfunctional. "Let's just forget about it alright? Let's just talk about making me and you work or if you really want to even make it work. Tell me how you feel."

Edward looked me in the eyes, "I love you with all my heart. You're the girl of my dreams and the mother of my children. I never would have married you if I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with you. You made me grow up and you gave me the best gift in the world. I don't want to loose that" Edward took my hand, "Now tell me how you feel."

"I can't say you were my first love because you weren't, but you were my second. After Mike died, I didn't think I'd ever love another guy again. I did everything wrong, I got depressed, became a slut and everything you'd never want your daughter to come. I was so afraid of getting close to someone and that's why when we hooked up at that party I pushed you away. I got scared because I knew I had feelings for you and it scared the crap out of me. But you showed me you wouldn't leave me, you stuck by me and never let go."

I didn't take my eyes off of Edward for the entire time I spoke, "You not only told me you loved me but you showed me too. You were perfect to me, you changed me for the better and showed me that life and love could exist after Mike. You made me who I am today and I'm so so grateful for that and I don't want to loose you because you mean so much to me." I paused for a second, "But at the same time I can't keep letting you hurt me. I've tried so hard to make this work but it seems like your not putting in any effort." I took my hand away from Edward's to wipe away a couple tears that fell from my eyes.

"I'm trying to put in the effort but every time all I can think about is you kissing James and it kills me."

"That shouldn't even matter any more Edward. You had sex with another woman. Don't you think that that hurts?"

"I'm sure it does hurt but I don't talk to her anymore. Your still friends with James."

"What does that have to do with anything? It was so long ago and I told you it meant nothing."

Edward didn't speak for a couple seconds, probably just to build up anticipation, like we're in some dramatic Hollywood movie. "What I'm trying to say is that you can't have your cake and eat it to. I don't think we can move forward till the thing that caused this problem in the first place is gone."

"What are you saying?" I asked confused, even though I was pretty sure I knew what he meant.

"You have to choose Bella, me or James. You can't have both." he said with the most serious expression on his face that I'd ever seen.

I sat there and stared at Edward, thoughts flying through my mind about the ultimatum he just presented to me. Edward, the man I've been in love with since I was 19 years old, the father of my children, but also the man that cheated on me by sleeping with his ex girlfriend or James, the guy that has been the only constant in my life for the past eight months. The guy that I've been friends with for a very long time, that was there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on while my husband was traveling the world, but also the guy that I kissed one night while drunk; the reason all of this started.

I looked at Edward with tears streaming down my cheek and even more coming from my eyes as I struggled to come up with an answer. "I'm sorry" I cried. "I'm so sorry"


I am currently working on the next chapter. I'm going to do my best.I don't know how I really feel about this chapter. I kind of just wanted to get it up and posted. With that said, there will be one more chapter posted but I'll probably do an epilogue or an update or something at some point. I'll try to post the next one as soon as possible, but who knows when that could be. Also, THANK YOU guys for all the reviews! Let's keep them coming. And I'd love to hear your predictions for what is going to happen in the next chapter! I read all the reviews even if I don't reply to them all :)