Honestly I've just been busy!

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Chapter 37

Monday 5th August 2013

"Edward Cullen"

"Mr. Cullen, it has been a while"

Edward frowns. "Aro?" He is confused.

"You remember, how marvelous" He laughs into the phone. "I think we should have a meeting" His voice serious instantly.

"A meeting?"

"Oh yes my dear boy, of the urgent kind"

He feels his face drain of blood. He wonders many things…most of them directly linked with what happened with James.

"Come to Seattle tomorrow, I think you know where my office is…don't you?"

"Yes sir" Edward clears his throat.

"Very good" Aro grins to himself. "I will see you tomorrow Edward"

Bella is laughing in the kitchen as the kids tell her about their day. They started camp today. Because it is Forks, the camp is at the Elementary School that all three of them can go to. They are divided up in age but all the kids are together. Masen and Lucy are together. Bella is under the impression the kids had a great time.

"It was so funny mom" Masen laughs throwing his head back.

Lucy sips on her ice tea and watches.

Bella smiles and lifts Ava into her arms, Ava stayed with Sue today as she will continue to do until school starts for her in September. "Did you have fun with Granny Sue?"

"Yup" Ava smiles at her mother.

Bella nuzzles her sweet baby daughter. "I love you" She inhales her baby scent that she is quickly losing with each day.

Paget chews her grapes and frowns at her mother. "Where is daddy?"

"He should be home soon" Bella still holding Ava presses a kiss to Paget's wild hair.

"I can't wait to tell him" Masen says jumping up and running to the door to wait for his father to arrive.

Edward pulls up and spots Masen on the front steps of the house. "Hey" He gets out and is greeted by his son. Edward lifts him into his arms.

"Guess what, today was so much fun!"

"I bet, where is Mom?" He hates to be distracted when his kids are involved but he is currently.

"Inside with the girls" Masen says grabbing his father's face and making him look at him.

"I want to hear all about it" Edward smiles, he will speak to Bella when the kids are in bed.

She feels the pit of her stomach falling when she watches him at dinner. The kids are so lively and happy, but he is just so blank, only joining in when called on. They have been so happy in Forks, she really thought this was it.

Bella shuts the bedroom. "Please" She leans against the door looking at him removing his clothing. "Please talk to me"

"You will hate me" He whispers, shaking his head not meeting her eyes.

"I won't Edward, please" She begs, willing the tears not to fall, begging for him to talk to her before they fall apart again.

He looks at his wife, is beautiful, loving wife. His understanding wife, he needs to stop forgetting how understanding she is. "I lied to you" He whispers cupping her cheek.

Bella shuts her eyes and lets the tears all. "It is over?"

"Sh, no, god no Bella, but"

"But?" Her eyes open and she stares up at him.

"I lied, when Emmett and I went away, we went, I went" He pauses to suck in a breath. "To confront James"

Bella stares at him. "Oh my god Edward" She whispers, her hands fly up and they cup his face, knocking his hand from her face. "Why, are you okay?" She knows that was a stupid question as soon as she asked it, he is clearly okay, physically from what she can see.

He smiles. "Bella" He starts softly. "Aro knows, I don't know how but I think he knows"

"He knows what?"

"I don't know, everything, it just seems he knows everything, he must know about the trip because he- he called me today, out of the blue"

Her hands are on his stomach as she watches him, she stares confused. "And?"

"He wants me to go, have a meeting with him tomorrow at his office"

A frown is pressed on her forehead. "But, what, did you kill him?" She whispers with wide eyes.

"No, god no"

"So he knows what, could know what?"

"I beat him…Emmett was with me, he is a cop, this" Edward sighs. "I have fucked up again haven't I?"

Bella pushes on her toes and wraps her arms around him. "Maybe he doesn't know anything" She whispers into his neck.

Edward wraps his arms around her and lifts her from the floor slightly. He carries her to short distance to their bed and they both go down. "Why would he call and demand a meeting?" He finally speaks staring at her.

"I don't know" Bella answers honestly. "How would he know you even took a trip, it doesn't make sense Edward"

He wants to agree with her, but Aro is so rich and powerful, he could do anything. "Okay"

"Go tomorrow and" She licks her lips before sighing. "Should I go with you?"

"Bella I can't ask you to…"

"Shh" She places her fingers on his lips. "I'm asking you"

"The kids?"

"Charlie and Sue" Bella says, she runs her hands over his face over his ear and into the base of his neck and hairline. "I love you" She whispers. "So damn much"

"I love you so damn much" He holds her tightly. "I'll protect you" He whispers. "Our family" He knows he did the right thing with James, he knows it. If Bella wasn't going to legally punish the man, he had to do it, to protect her.

Tuesday 6th August 2013

Charlie arrives at the house bright and early; he was slightly worried about Bella and Edward when they got the call last night about watching the kids. Of course he and Sue agreed to take over the parental duties for a few days. He doesn't like that Bella can't tell him the real reason that her and Edward are heading out to Seattle.

"Where is the crew?" Charlie says looking at his daughter.

"Oh I don't know, but we have four" She jokes. "So if you lose one, replace him or her with another, off the streets or something" She grins hugging her father. "Thank you for doing this" She says in all seriousness now.

"You can" He holds her. "Talk to me Bells"

"I know, but Edward and I have to sort this right now alone"

"Be safe" His chest still aches to know what she went through, to have held it for that length of time not letting anyone in, no husband, no one.

"We will" Bella assures him.

Sitting next to him as he drives, 9am the roads are quiet leaving Forks. Bella turns her head and smiles when he takes her hand lightly in his.

Edward pulls their joined hands into his lap and rubs his thumb over her smooth skin.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?" He called Emmett about this last night after calling Charlie and Sue to ask them to watch the kids. He and Emmett spoke for a while about tomorrow. He will meet them at the house, after getting the key from Carlisle.

"I love you"

Giving her a glance he smiles. "I love you too sweetheart"

They arrive in the city just after 12. Emmett is at the house.

"Good to see you" Emmett smiles and hugs his brother. They haven't seen each other since Edward and his family moved to Forks back end of June. "You okay?" Emmett holds Edward's shoulder firmly and gives it a rub.

"Yeah" Edward sighs. "Shit" He whispers as Bella enters their old house alone.

"Dad, I spoke to him" Emmett confesses, he had to get the key after all, which turned into explaining why Edward and Bella were in Seattle.

"Yeah" Edward rubs his forehead. "I'll call him, but it's after 12, I think I should just head to Aro's office"

"Do you want me to take Bella to mom and dad's?"

Edward looks towards the house; his wife is probably walking through it remembering all the good times. "No" He smiles a bit. "I think she will be fine"

"Rosie expects you two to join us for dinner"

"So mom knows I am here?"

"Yup" Emmett smiles. "You know Carlisle told her, and she and Rosie and Alice are ready for a dinner with Bella"

Nodding he rubs his forehead. "Thanks for, opening the house, um, I will call you"

"Do you want me to go with you to Aro's?"

"No, no" He shakes his head hoping that everything will be fine, he doesn't want Emmett involved more than he already is. Helping him track James is a big deal, his position will be compromised.

"Should I call Jasper and inform him about all this?"

"No" Edward shakes his head. "Let me deal with Aro, like Bella said he may not know anything"

"And he may know everything" Emmett says somberly.

"I'm sorry I got you into this"

"Hey" Emmett clamps a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You and I are brothers"

Edward nods. "I'll call you as soon as I finish"

"Okay, I'll head back to the station and call Roise tell her Bella is at the house, she may swing by with Sadie"

Edward smiles. "She must be huge now"

"So stinking cute, breaks my heart those two girls do"

"I know the feeling" Edward mutters softly.

Bella sits in the livingroom, everything is at it was, besides the white sheets. She pulled a few from the furniture.

"Hey"

"Hey" She smiles standing. "I didn't know how much I missed this house until right now"

Edward holds her close. "I'm going to head to his office now"

"Should I come?"

"No" He shakes his head. "Stay here, I'll be back as soon as I can"

"Okay"

"Alice, Rose and Esme know we are here" He smiles rubbing his nose to hers.

Bella laughs a bit. "I didn't think we were going to leave without seeing them" She didn't know they knew she and Edward had or were coming. She reckons Emmett filled in his wife, and father who filled in the rest, plus they needed the house key and Carlisle had it. But she is looking forward to seeing them before they head back to Forks. If they head back to Forks.

Edward watches his wife bite her lip. "What is it sweetheart?"

"Nothing" She whispers pressing a kiss to his mouth. "Be safe?"

"Of course, I'll call you as soon as I can"

Bella nods as he heads to see Aro and find out what he knows and wants.

Don't panic – trust…AND its almost over *tear*

And very good at the person (if I recall it was only one person) who noticed someone was watching Edward.