A/N: Now let's continue where we left off...

And welcome back!

Dislcaimer: Most of the characters are not mine.

"I thought-" Bella starts to speak but Charlie cuts her off.

"Of course becoming rivals in the police field just worsened everythin'. We started out because of this." He shakes the photo in his hands before handing it back to Bella roughly. "I don't wan' see that."

Bella sighs. "Can you at least tell us a bit about her?"

"She's a lyin', cheatin' tramp that humiliated herself and left town to start fresh." Charlie interlocks his fingers on his lap. "What? You want the whole story."

Bella shoots him an irritated look and for a few moments it's just the sound of the clock ticking and everyone's breathing. "Yes. Please."

"Alright, high school she was the pretty cheerleader that dated the quarter back. He broke her heart. Typical story, I know, but it's what happened. Once she was single everyone wanted a swing at her if you know what I mean. Just think, the high school's own personal Jessica Simpson. Fuckin' gorgeous."

Meh. My mouth twitches to a frown.

I look over to Bella.

Yeah, I definitely prefer brunettes.

"Anyways, she was fallin' into everyone's arms. She fell into mine when I grew the balls and asked her to prom. I took her and I even bought a damn tux." He shakes his head in disgust. "I get there and it's a typical high school party. Drinking, lots of it. Now Ellie Taylor, she wasn't a goody two shoes like most cheerleaders, no, no, she had to drink and dance and hike up her dress. When she got drunk enough she pranced across the dance floor and Carlisle Cullen caught her and smacked his grubby mouth right to hers. I saw it all and even though Ellie was drunk, I was hurt. Even though she went through guys like she did her panties, I was hurt. I hate to admit it too.

"I waltzed over to her and pulled her back. Then Cullen pushed me for layin' my hands on her. We shouted back and forth, back and forth. We got everyone watchin'. We embarrassed ourselves over a drunk girl and neither of us faced each other since. Eight years down the road we both are cops at different stations. Rivals once again. End of story."

"Seriously?" Bella hisses. "Seriously?" She stands up. "You hated Carlisle Cullen because of that? Because of some - pardon my French - whore! I'm sure Carlisle was a good man, I know he was, but I know he may have made some mistakes. You choose-"

I grab Bella's hand and pull her back to the couch gently. "Bella." I breathe out and she turns to face me, fury written all across her face. "It's not worth it."

"Oh hell yes it is, because some high school incident led to all of this. It's not affecting me. I've ought to go find this damn Taylor girl and show her whose boss. The boss would be me."

I stifle a smile. Little as a kitten, fierce as a tiger. And all mine.

"You hated Carlisle because of that? You all were drinking and it was a kiss with some whore. Then, when you became 'rivals' because you both decided to be police officers? Please, seriously? I thought cops were supposed inspire to protect people, not fight each other to see who gets what case. You should be happy! The more the merrier; the town should have felt safer knowing... and Carlisle gave up his life for his career. Aren't you willing to respect that and forget some damn high school prom? You're kidding me, pay your respects for once. You disgust me."

Charlie opens his mouth to respond but Bella holds up a finger stopping him. "Oh, I'm not done big guy. I grew up without a dad because you made a mistake with mom. You were the one who took me in when I turned ten, but I still had no dad. You treated me like garbage and you still do. I get that you're starting to like Edward, but even before him you only wanted me to help you benefit. It's all about you. You know what? I hate Tyler Crowley's guts. I do. I really, really do. And I'm not really liking you either dad. Now, I have to go before I break something. Edward, do you have something to say?"

I stand up and bring Bella with me wrapping an arm around her waist. I look down at Charlie still sitting on his recliner and his face is almost purple from what can only be rage. Do I really want to say something? Of course, he let Bella down and the way he treated her pisses me off. But do I really want to say something to upset him more? Yes and no.

"Edward, you don't have to impress him. You can say whatever you want." Bella tells me and crosses her arms. I tighten my hold around her waist.

"You seem like a great guy Charlie, in many ways. You have your good qualities, but you let your wants get the best of you. You have the best daughter; she's terrific and I love her to bits. I hope one day in your eyes, I'll deserve the opportunity to marry her, but if not I guess I understand. I don't really get it though, if I'm honest. I'm not my dad, I wouldn't be like him, I didn't get along with him. And I hope you know I'd never misuse Bella or let her down in any shape or form. I don't get why my dad's mistakes effect me and I'm paying the price for what he's done in the past. He's not even alive anymore. If he were, I'd tell him exactly what I'm telling you; that he has good qualities, but he lets his wants get the best of him. Because he did. I'd tell him how much I love Bella and how I don't get why her and I pay for our parent's mistakes."

I suck in a breath and look him dead in the eye. "I can give her what Tyler Crowley can't. I can keep her happy, and I promise I will. Wherever I end up thirty, forty years for now, I know I'll be okay because I have her. I know I'm giving you a whole fucking speech right now, but you just have to know. I love her and she loves me. That's what matters to use; not the past and our parent's mistakes, and most certainly not who dislikes our being together because in reality, it doesn't affect anyone else. I hope one day you realize that and I hope your smart enough to let Bella into your life the way you should 'cause right now you're really missing out."

And with that, I pull Bella away and out the door.

And just like that another chapter is written. Time for a new page and a new chapter.

...

It's April second. I'm standing in the sea green coloured room where there's white chairs all around. Three people are also in the room. I take the chair closest to me and sit down on it, crossing my legs. I wring my hands out nervously. On a wall, there's a flat screen with a show on that's muted and there's a heater buzzing in the corner. The heater is on too high in my opinion for it being April.

Yeah it's drizzling outside, but it's April so I guess it goes with the theme and all.

I had to take off work to be here. I've been here before, a few months back. The health & problems centre or whatever it's called. The therapy room, that's what I like to refer it as. Susan's with another paitent/client/victim while I sit her and try to keep my breathing calm.

God, I wish Bella was here with me, but she's at work. She offered to come and escort me, but I think it's best if I do this alone. I'll always be able to see her tonight and tell her word for word what happened (which I'm sure I'll do when I get home anyways).

Maybe this was the best idea. Coming here, talking. Maybe it wasn't. I like to hope it is. Looking on the bright side of things and all..

I want to be free and be myself. I want to be okay in a relationship and right now, I know I have so much shit going on I don't know how to sort myself. Susan seems to want to help, that's one thing I liked about her; she's not acting like this is her job, she just wants to be a friend to sit down and listen. She doesn't judge and she states her opinion.

I'm willing to talk to her.

For Bella.

For Alice.

And even for me.

Because we all need this. We all need to be stable. Alice'll be in my seat one day when she's older and I'll know it's for the better. Bella will be happier when she sees that I am, and hell, when I have this sorted through and am able to move on in life, things will be better. I just know they will.

Susan sticks her head into the room from around the corner. I remember her well, her short, cropped black hair that's flat on her head and the glasses perched up on her nose. The way she has a pointed chin and thin cheekbones. Even the large beautymark on her forehead off to the right. She has to be at least forty and her hair looks died to hide the grays threatening to peek out.

"Edward Cullen?" She asks the room full of four people.

I stand up and pat my sweaty palms against my jeans before walking over to her. I follow her through the maze of halls and doors on either side of me. "How's the weather? Still icky?" She asks as she opens the door to her all-too-familiar room.

I nod and clear my throat as I move to sit down. She sits in her big rolly chair while I get a firm, black chair to rest on. Even the chair is familiar. "Yeah, it's pretty nasty; the drizzle that is. We need it though."

"That's true. I still hope it clears up within the next few days." She sits back and turns the chair to face me, her hands planted her lap with a soft smile across her features. "Edward, it's been so long. What has made you motivated to come back?"

"Bella." I answer simply.

"Ah, it seems we have a lot to talk about." She lets out a soft laugh. "I'm not caught up. How about the summary of the past few months since we've last seen each other?"

Susan politely waits for my answer. "Well I hit rock bottom, Susan. I really did. I had no idea what to do and closed myself up completely. Alice cried and freaked daily and I thought about taking her to the doctor to put her on meds. But one day we went out for donuts at a coffee shop and I told her I was putting her back in school since she's been out for long enough.

"She went to school. Funny story and I'll make it short; she loves her teacher, Alice. Miss Swan is her name. Has a nice ring to it, eh? Anyways, Alice had this new priority in her life it seemed; to get this Miss Swan and I to meet. Alice said she was so nice and great and that she had chocolate eyes," I pause to chuckle. "Alice even made a friend named Heidi, together they created a plan to get me and this teacher together."

I smile as I recall the past few months. They were certainly something. "Long story short, I end up meeting her. She's Bella. I love her. Despite the fact her dad is Charlie Swan and hated my dad, the fact that Tyler Crowley wants her and everyone thinks that she and Tyler should be together, the fact that I'm messed up completely and am a young adult with nothing set straight and a sister to take care of, and lastly the fact that being in a relationship with her is breaking the school board rules... We're in love. End of story, right?"

Susan chuckles. "Oh Edward. I do love that smile of yours. A crooked one. Nice story. I'm sure that's just barely scratching the surface, but I get the gist. So this Bella, she's the life changing theme?"

"Yes." I nod. "I'm here because I really need to get things together. I'm an adult, a man, and I need to have myself straight and aligned properly you know? I know, and Bella knows, that I have a lot of my past sneaking up on me and making me insecure. I need help. I don't care if that makes me sound weak; I need help."

"Weak? The strongest thing in my mind is someone who can see their faults and try to fix them." Susan responds evenly. "I adore the fact you have priorites and I'm so happy that you're happy. When we last saw each other I worried what would become of you."

"Me too." I admit.

"And it seems you have many improvements over the last little while. How are you coping?" She asks and looks eager for my answer.

I rub my feet along the carpeted floor before answering. I don't make eye contact while speaking because for some reason, it's easier to look at the floor. "Well. I'd like to say I'm coping well. I am way better than a few months ago and everyday seems to be easier, but I can't get into routine without something going wrong."

"Like what? What seems to be going wrong?"

"I..." At a loss for words, I tug at my hair and look up slowly. Susan has her blue eyes soft but slightly narrowed in what I'd guess to be confusion. The window behind her on the wall has light casting through it since the blinds are up. "I just worry over stuff I shouldn't. I don't even know what's wrong with me completely. I just think I need to get over what happened."

"What happened?"

"You know what happened!" I exclaim in the loud voice. "You know I'm messed up."

"Messed up?" She tilts her head to the side. "You just have a lot going on and need a way to get through it. You have been through so much, I wouldn't know what to do in your position either. You've gone from a bachelor to a man with two ladies to take care of."

"Alice and Bella." I nod in understanding. "Yeah."

"Describe them. They seem great, but how would you describe them?" Susan asks me. She talks professionally, but still makes it seem like she's a friend and not a worker, not a therapist.

"Where do I start?" I pause to chuckle.

"With Alice?" Susan suggests. "How's she doing?"

"Good. She has a few friends, she has a woman role in her life - Bella - and she smiles often. She has nightmares at times still, but it's because she worries she'll lose Bella. I worry about that too, but I shouldn't. Alice is smart, she doesn't let anything bring her down. She's really funny too, and mature for her age. She's only eight and she's wiser than most adults I know. That's probably because she's been through Hell. What I really love about her though is that she looks on the bright side. She finds good in everything. I'm surprised how well she is, but I'm glad. Real glad."

"So you both worry you'll lose Bella." Susan pulls out of my words and I nod, yes. "What do you worry about? That you'll lose her, I got that. But why will you lose her? You and Alice are wonderful people, why would she leave?"

"I don't know." I huff. "I don't. I don't know why it bugs me, but sometimes when I'm alone and thinking I just worry I'll lose her."

"Do you think perhaps Bella worries about the same, that she'll lose you and Alice?"

"I don't know." I admit.

"Where will she go?"

"Anywhere."

"Is she happy?"

"She says she is."

"Edward." Susan leans forward in her big chair and rests her hands on her knees. "Think about Bella, is she happy? Do you see her as a happy woman?"

"Yes."

"Is that bad to admit?"

I pull in a breath. "I don't know. It shouldn't be."

"No, it shouldn't be. You make her happy and she makes you happy." Susan concludes and I look back to the floor.

"No one really wants us together." I explain softly. My chest tightens. "Her dad, Crowley-"

"Everyone else wants you two together. You want to be with her. That's what matters. Not everyone will encourage you're relationship, but you're smarter than to let people bring you down. You're happy."

"I am." I nod.

"That's what counts."

...

A/N: Do you see progress being made? Do you think Bella/Edward/Alice should just move out of town or take a vacation from all this? Let me know your thoughts, guys!

Leave a review? Thanks. :)