Stolen Dreams

Disclaimer: Yada, yada, yada. I've said it all already. See the other 100 chapters up here.

A/N: Thank you. There are not words to describe how much I appreciate each and every one of you. Stolen Dreams has now surpassed my first story, What Happens In Vegas, in reviews, and I can't tell you how happy it makes me to read each and every one. I must also have the best readers in the fandom as well because I haven't gotten the grief that others have and for that, I thank you also. We authors put our hearts on the line with each chapter and that is where your words live for us. And just remember in the immortal words of Thumper's mom, "If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."

To clarify a few things before we get started: Jessica had nothing to do with the kidnapping. She's just the typical teenage girl that puts hearts on her I's and writes in big, bubbly handwriting. No one in Forks, other than Angela, Gerandy, Charlie and Alice, knew that the baby died. Gerandy and Susan Mallory spread the word that she'd agreed to the adoption and since the Swan's were so isolated in their grief, they didn't hear it. The Cullens did not knowingly participate in illegal activity. It is common to pay between $30,000 and $70,000 for a private adoption with some of the money being given to the mother for medical expenses.

As always, thank you to JenRar (Jenny Cullen) for being the world's best beta. I couldn't do it without her. And if you have PMs disabled, I cannot reply to your review.

Chapter 21

To Renee's credit, she listened to the entire story from start to finish without interruption. She even gasped and teared up in all of the appropriate places. When we were done, she asked what our plans were where Ryan was concerned and encouraged us to not just settle for visitation on holidays. She also apologized for showing up unannounced and for her attitude when she arrived.

"You were so sad after the baby died," she told me, putting her hand on mine. "I just didn't want to see you get hurt again or try to use another kid to fill the loss. It was so hard to watch you fold in on yourself and know there was nothing I could do."

"But you didn't watch me," I pointed out. "You weren't there."

Her eyes were sad as she looked at me. "I thought about it. Charlie said you were so despondent that he didn't even know if you knew he was around. Maybe if I had come . . . I don't know. You didn't want me there—God knows I'm not good with comforting—so I left Phil on the road, went home, and stayed in contact with your dad. Later, I thought it would be better if I just didn't bring it up, that it would help you get over it."

"I didn't," I said unnecessarily.

"I see that." Renee stared at her hands. "How long have you known?"

"About a month," Edward answered for me. He'd wrapped his arm around my shoulder while I told Renee about Ryan, and now, he offered me more comfort against what he sensed was coming.

Renee sighed. "Why didn't you tell me, Bella? I'm your mother. And now I feel terrible because I was rude to your son!"

I shrugged. "Honestly? I didn't think you'd care. You didn't want to be part of his life when he was born. Why would now be any different?"

She gaped at me, and then chuckled uncomfortably. "You must truly believe that I am the worst mother in history. Yes, I thought you were too young to raise a child. I'd been there. I was too young when I had you, but I would have supported you all I could. Just like I'll support you now."

"Thanks, Mom," I said weakly, not sure if I believed her, but appreciating the words nevertheless. "Um, I have steaks in the kitchen if you're hungry." My own stomach was rumbling, because I hadn't gotten hot dogs and nachos during the game.

"God, baby, I'm sorry," Edward rushed out, as if he'd just realized that dinner wasn't just for them. "You were waiting for us to eat, weren't you?"

"I'll eat now. Mom, you want to join me?"

Renee nodded and followed Edward and me into the kitchen. I quickly heated two of the plates and set them on the table. Edward grabbed a third for himself. It felt a little weird to be sitting around the kitchen table and just chatting about Phil's team and both of our jobs like this was a normal visit after the heaviness of our conversation in the other room, but we did it for almost an hour. The clock showed that it was after ten when I started cleaning up the table and Renee was yawning.

"Do you mind if I stay here until tomorrow afternoon?" she asked. "I didn't mean to intrude."

And that was the thing with my mother. She didn't mean to intrude. It never crossed her mind that I might not be here and willing to drop everything to spend time with her. She free-wheeled through life, landing only long enough to regroup.

"Of course not, Mom," I said tiredly. "I'll make up the couch for you."

Edward loaded the dishwasher, but he looked lost in thought. It looked like he was warring with himself over something. I went into the hall closet, grabbed the pull-out sheets and stacked them on the arm of the couch. Before Edward and I went to bed, we could get it out for her, but she could make it up herself.

"Hey, baby," Edward said in a low voice as he wrapped his arms around me from behind. "I think I'm going to take off."

I whirled around and glared at him. "Don't leave me here alone with her! Please."

"Whoa." He looked taken aback. "What's this about? I thought things were okay now." He ran his hands soothingly up and down my sides.

I dropped my head onto his shoulder. "They are . . . sort of. I just know that she's going to want to be gossipy and girly or she's going to want to talk about him, and I'm just not up for it." I looked up in time to see him grimace.

"All right, I'll stay," he agreed reluctantly. "I'll have to head home sometime tomorrow, though. It's going to be a busy week at the office, since both Jasper and I are gone next weekend."

I kissed him in thanks, and he grasped onto my hand as we went back into the living room to tell my mother goodnight. She already had the sofa bed pulled out and made up, her pajamas and robe were on, and she was clearly ready for bed.

"Good night, you two," she said through a yawn. "I'm sorry I can't hang out any longer. Phil's had me up at the crack of dawn every day for two weeks."

"That's fine, Mom. We didn't get much sleep last night, either. Edward had to work late. We'll see you in the morning," I told her as I gave her a hug.

She'd crawled underneath the covers before Edward and I even made it out of the room. When we got into my room, Edward fished out a t-shirt and a pair of sleep pants I didn't even know he owned. Since he usually slept only in his boxer briefs, I cocked my head to the side and gave him a strange look.

"I don't trust her not to barge in here in the morning," he hissed. "Again!"

I laughed, remembering the instance he was talking about. My mom had been to visit shortly after we'd gotten back together, and she hadn't realized that Edward had stayed the night. When she woke up, she'd poured us both a cup of coffee and breezed into my room to wake me like she owned the place. Renee had been so surprised when she leaned over a bare male shoulder instead of mine, she'd yelped loudly, and then spilled the coffee all over him.

"It wasn't funny," he whisper-yelled. "It really fucking hurt!"

"Yeah, but the look on both of your faces was priceless," I defended, still chuckling. "I don't think she'll ever come into my room unannounced again."

"I'm still not chancing it," he grumbled, marching into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.

I threw on a pair of pajamas and waited for him to come out so I could brush my teeth. It didn't take long for him to reappear, and after I brushed my teeth, I came back out to find him already asleep underneath the covers.

In an effort not to disturb him, since I knew he hadn't slept much, if at all, the night before, I carefully climbed in on my side of the bed. Edward's arm shot out and dragged me backwards so that I was spooned against his already warm body. And just like that, I let the events of the day go and fell fast asleep.

Edward was still asleep when I woke on my own about eight the next morning. I could hear someone, presumably my mother or Alice, banging around in the kitchen, so I got up and went to investigate. The couch bed was no longer extended, and the sheets were nowhere in sight. My mother, however, was standing over the coffee pot, looking perplexed.

"Morning, Mom," I said softly so as not to startle her. It didn't work.

She jumped at the sound of my voice and turned to face me with her hand over her heart. "Goodness, Bella, you scared me! I didn't wake you, did I? I was trying to be quiet."

"No, we usually don't sleep this late, even on the weekends. Did you sleep all right?" I asked, moving around her to get the pot brewing properly.

"I did. Thank you for letting me stay. I was trying to have the coffee ready, but that thing is a lot more complicated than the one I have at home." She waved vaguely in the direction of the coffee maker and took a seat at the table.

"It's fine," I assured her. "I usually set the timer so it's ready when I get up, but I forgot last night."

"About last night," Renee started with a grimace. "I am sorry for the way I handled things, but I have to ask. Are you sure this is what you want? I mean, I know you were determined to have that baby years ago, but he's a grown boy now. He has a family and a life of his own. Should you disrupt that?"

I poured coffee for both of us and took a seat at the table. For several moments, I stared at my cup, doing my best to listen to what my mother was saying and what she meant and trying to tamp down the angry teenager in me that wanted to lash out and tell her she didn't know what she was talking about. "Ryan deserves to know that he was always loved and wanted. We didn't give him up; we didn't abandon him. And knowing that goes along with knowing that he is wanted and loved now."

"Is this the best thing for you?" she asked, uncharacteristically serious.

"I'm happier than I've been in years," I told her truthfully.

She sighed, looking down, and swirled her coffee in her cup. "How are you and Edward as a couple? That was always one of my worries for you. I didn't want you and Edward to end up like Charlie and I did. We were too young when we had you and had no idea what it meant to have a child."

I felt like she was hinting around something, but not coming out and saying it. For many years as a child, I had believed it was my fault that my parents had split—and maybe my mom still felt that way. Years of reflection had given me the insight that my mother was just too young and flighty and my father was too stoic and steadfast. She needed more adventure in her life than a small town cop and a baby could provide.

"Relationships are hard work," I finally answered. "We both know that, and we do our best to make sure that we make time for each other. Having Ryan around will shift that focus somewhat, but I think we can do it."

"Okay," she said simply, and then changed the subject. "Do you have plans for the day?"

"Nope, just lots of time to spend with my dear ol' mom before she drives back to wherever Phil is," I said with a smile.

She slapped me on the shoulder in response.

We were still talking about where we wanted to go while she was in town, when Edward padded into the kitchen. He was still half-asleep. "Morning, sweetheart," he said through a yawn while pouring his own cup of coffee. He kissed me on the head and sank into the chair next to me.

"What's on the agenda for the day, ladies?" he asked once he'd taken a couple of sips.

"Bella and I are going to do a little shopping," Renee said. "Are you coming with us to hold our bags?"

Edward frowned and looked to me. "Uh, no, I think I have some work to catch up on. I'll let the two of you have a girls' day."

I laughed at his attempt to get out of spending time with my mom, but let him do it. Her idea of a good time and his didn't match up in the slightest, and I knew that the next time she came in with Phil, he'd hang around.

An hour later, Edward was on his way to the office, and Mom and I were on our way to the mall. I suggested Pike Place Market, but she was in the mood for clothes. We walked into every store, and I stood by while she tried outfit after outfit on.

"Mom, you are too old to wear that," I said when she tried on a scrap of fabric made to look like a shirt and some skinny jeans.

"Isabella Marie, did you just call me old?" She was aghast.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, I'm too old to wear that. Hell, I think Ryan's friends are too old for that."

She giggled. "Fair enough. I'm getting the sweater, though. I like what it does for my boobs."

I shook my head and surreptitiously put the dress she'd wanted me to try on the fitting room rack. If Ryan's friends were too old to wear what she had on, toddlers were too old for that skimpy thing.

It was late afternoon by the time we got home, and I was exhausted. Renee gathered up her things and left quickly, knowing that she had several hours of driving to do before she would meet up with Phil and his ball club. She hugged me goodbye and wished me all the best, as if she didn't think I was making the best decisions but was keeping her mouth shut. Not for the first time in my life, I appreciated her silence.

Since Edward had sent me a message that he would be working late, I made myself a sandwich and curled up in my bed, intent on losing myself in another world for the rest of the night.

Monday morning dawned bright and warm. Summer was in full swing, and the sight of clear, blue skies chased away any malingering feelings left over from my mother's weekend visit. Chelsea handed me a cup of coffee, already prepared when I walked in, and notified me that my schedule had been rearranged slightly to accommodate a new patient. Even that didn't phase my cheer.

Either my good mood was infectious, or my patients were suffering from the same giddiness, because instead of dwelling on problems, almost all of my patients focused on the positives in their lives. Hope was alive and well.

Edward showed up just afternoon. "Hey," he said, knocking on my door frame. "You wanna grab a bite?"

I set down the file I was holding and grinned at him. "Sure! I've got some time, handsome." I reached into my desk drawer, retrieved my purse, and was fishing out my keys to lock my office, when Chelsea's voice broke in on the intercom.

"Bella, I'm sorry to bother you. I know Edward's here to steal you away and make you eat, but Aron Michaels is on one for you. He said he tried to reach you on your cell, but didn't get an answer."

"Thanks, Chelsea." I looked down at my phone, and sure enough, I still had the ringer turned off. Edward swiftly moved into the room, closed the door, and took a seat on the other side of my desk. At a nod from him, I hit the speaker button on my phone. "Aron? This is Bella. Edward's with me, and you're on speaker."

"Oh, good. I'm glad I've caught the two of you together. I got your handwriting samples and sent them to someone I know on Friday, but as it turns out, that wasn't necessary. Do you know an Alec Majors?" he asked.

"Yes, he's the FBI agent in charge of the kidnapping case," I answered.

"That's him. He called me a little while ago with the results. It seems that your father sent the samples up to the Bureau's offices as well. He said their analyst took two glances at the samples and laughed at him. There's no way you signed those documents. Anyway, he said they are tracking down the notaries involved, as well."

"I told you we didn't sign the release forms," I said. "That's good news, right?"

"For you, yes. For Bob Gerandy, no." Aron laughed. "At this point, if that man ever sees the outside of a prison cell again, he'll be lucky. But that's not all I have for you. Marjorie Hollings has to be the most efficient DSHS worker in the state. Her reports were already filed this morning."

"And?" I led. Aron seemed to be enjoying drawing this out.

"She concluded that both families could provide a suitable and loving home for Ryan, although she would like to see him have his own space with you. Ryan did express that he didn't want to be removed from his current home, and she sees no reason that he needs to be."

"What does that mean for us, Aron?" Edward asked, his face serious.

"It means that you should start looking into alternative living arrangements that include a separate bedroom for Ryan. I've already put in a call to the Cullens' attorney to arrange a meeting to discuss custody. I would look for us to have something next week," he said.

"We put an offer on a house this morning," Edward told him. My eyes widened in shock. We'd talked about, but I didn't know he'd called Maggie already. He nodded and smiled. "Ryan got to see it this weekend and picked out the room he wanted. As for the meeting, as long as it's not this weekend, I'm sure we can work on that."

"Are you looking at us getting full custody now?" I asked in shock. Before, he had told us that it wasn't likely.

"No." Aron sighed. "I'd like to have better news for you there, but right now, the court system is going to look more favorably on a joint arrangement. That was Marjorie's recommendation. That is the first step, though, in integrating yourselves into his life. If this goes well and Ryan becomes more comfortable with the idea, then I think we have a better shot."

"I'd like to add therapy for Ryan to the agenda for the meeting," I added. "There seem to be some unresolved issues there, and with the trial coming up, I want him to have someone neutral to talk to."

"Okay. I'll be in touch as soon as I have some possible meeting times and locations. Have a good day," Aron signed off.

For a moment, Edward and I simply stared at each other, unable to fully process what we'd just been told. I opened my mouth to say something about it, but what came out surprised even me. "You put an offer on the house?"

Edward chuckled, albeit a little uneasily. "Yeah, I called Maggie yesterday, and we ironed the details out this morning. The offer is well below what they are asking and even lower than what we had talked about, but I figured it would give us negotiating room."

We continued to discuss it over lunch, and by the time Edward dropped me back off at my office, we had agreed on our final numbers, if and when we had to negotiate with the home buyers. It was no longer an "if we wanted the house." Ryan had been happy there, and I would move mountains to keep that smile on his face.

The rest of the week flew by. As we expected, Maggie called back later that night with a counter-offer well above our original. Edward countered back, and we finally settled on a number in the middle by Thursday. Since Edward would be leaving early the next day and was working late, Maggie met us at his office to sign the paperwork and congratulate us. Of course, we all knew that the hardest parts were yet to come, but there was a sense of excitement in the air. After she left, Edward celebrated by bending me over the arm of his couch. I didn't mind in the slightest.

Edward and Jasper left midday on Friday, and we still hadn't heard from Agent Majors or Aron. I promised to call him if anything changed when he stopped by my office on his way to the airport. As soon as he was out the door, I called Angela and invited her over for a girls' weekend. She suggested that we do it at her house, since she had more space, and said that she would let Alice know of our plans. Angela sounded almost as excited as I felt.

"This was a great idea, Bella," Alice said with the frosty remnants of her margarita on her upper lip. We'd decided on Mexican take-out and homemade margaritas to go with mani/pedis, gossip, and movies.

"Why thank you," I said not so humbly. "I am known for my strokes of brilliance sometimes. Besides, we've haven't gotten together in too long, and with all of our boys out of commission for the weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time."

"This should become a standing tradition. They go out of town once a month, right?" Angela asked. "And Ben will cover for them when they do. It can be our time. You won't have Ryan on these weekends, right?"

I shrugged. "If we get full custody, yes, but I could always arrange for him to visit Esme and Carlisle on this weekend. With the way we are doing things now, this isn't one of our weekends."

The girls wanted full details on how everything was going, and it took most of dinner and through the manicures to answer all of their questions. It was the last one, though, that gave me pause.

"What about the press? How are you guys going to deal with that?" Angela asked.

"So far, it hasn't been an issue." I sighed. "I'm sure everyone in Forks knows what's going on, but it's not like we have our own television crew. I figure that when the charges are filed and the grand jury is convened, interest will pick up. Edward and I have talked about it, but with everything else going on, I haven't wanted to bring it up to Esme."

They both looked at me sympathetically and offered their assistance if I could come up with anything. Alice suggested that we do like the celebrities having babies do and agree to one interview with a major outlet. I filed it away to discuss with Aron and Edward later.

Soon, the heavier talks were abandoned in favor of idle gossip and movie quoting. To be perfectly honest, we weren't really capable of holding those conversations anyway. I lost count of my margaritas after the third one.

None of us got up early the next morning. We hobbled to the nearest cheeseburger joint with our sunglasses on around one and filled our hungover stomachs with grease. Once we felt better, Alice convinced us to come and help her display some new products in the shop for the rest of the day. With nothing better to do, we tromped over there and spent the next several hours rearranging everything.

I had missed girl time, and as much as I loved Alice, Angela's calm presence was a balm of sorts to the chaos that my life had become over the last six weeks. It was hard to believe that it hadn't been six months since this had all started, so much had happened. By Sunday morning, I felt more at peace with myself and the world than I had in months—maybe even years.

I didn't know time could fly by so fast, but the week following Edward's Reserve weekend did. Ryan called us a couple of times to ask random questions, or he sent silly text messages that brightened my day. He said he had something big planned for us, but that it was going to be a surprise. Neither Edward nor I could wait.

We had lost ourselves so much in the flurry of our daily lives that when the shit hit the fan on Friday, it caught us both off guard.

Uh, oh.

Don't forget about the Fandom AJD compilation. I've submitted a Ryan POV outtake and there are a ton of other fantastic authors coming together to try to find a cure for Type I (or Juvenile) diabetes.