Days and Moons

by Jcrow231

Inspired by the J-drama and K-drama Operation proposal. Bella gets a second chance at rewriting her own history. Will she get Edward Cullen before he marries the wrong woman? Little bit of angst eventual HEA. This will be a short story!

I've had this story stuck in my head for the longest time, so here goes nothing. These are the words that are meant for you.

Disclaimer…I own none of these characters and for full disclosure this fic is loosely based on the Japanese drama and Korean remake operation proposal. Enjoy

The song below is called Days and moons by Elsa Kopf.

PART 1 - Bella

…

A lullaby

…

In the early morning hours
Someone waits for you
Among the blossoms
and the flowers
He will find you

…
Who's that shadow
by the water
Who has come for you
In the lilac and the roses
I will hide you
Somehow the story goes
You've been followed by ghosts
Out in the blue
So go
My little one
I will sing a song until I know
My little one
All the night elves
keep an eye on you
For days and moons
And days and moons I wander
The days are long but
honey the moons are longer

…

When I was younger I didn't think I would ever be truly alone, I thought I would always have someone, my friends, my family… him but the reality has been so different. Sometimes I feel like I can see my life through a mirror and be so detached to it, so many things happened out of my control and there are days where I think about moments I could change. But life and fate and destiny are out of our grasp, they create their own path detached from us. Even though I wish day and night that things could have been different, I know that in the end humans are fickle and prideful and I grow embittered. I no longer think of circumstances that separated me and the people I love, I think of their reactions and the outcomes. Somedays I hate him the most.

….

Mondays in my small corner of the world consist of small things, early morning wake ups, poppy seed and lemon muffins and most importantly the company of my little world, Riley. Every Monday morning I pick up the little dude and we open up the shop together, make our first batch of muffins and wait for the arrival of our first customers. Riley, at the adorable age of 3 is conquering the world by asking a question a minute. His empathy and adoration of everything baffles me everyday and I stare at him in wonder most of the time. For three-year-old Riley, today seems to be a grumpy start. Being three also means not understanding why you have to wear clothes to be outside and the temper tantrums that follow are never fun for Rose.

I wait patiently as he huffs and puffs and allows Rosalie to dress him. Once he's ready he gives a big smooch to Emmett and runs to me, forgetting all about the tears and pain of wearing day clothes.

"Bewa, where is mr giggles?"

ahh, the downfall of mr giggles

"Didn't mr giggles go on a trip? I thought he went to Bora Bora"

Riley contemplates what I've said for a minute and then huffs, "well he should come back, what would he do there all alone?"

"Sometimes we need to be alone Ri, come on lets go and feed the duckies"

We make it to the park in 25 minutes, I allow Riley to jump in puddles and ask me the million questions I know he's curious about. As we feed the ducks he clings to my legs, telling me he's not afraid but would rather feed them from afar. I chuckle at his banter, as he talks to the ducks as if they were people. On the way back I carry the little monster as he squirms and giggles.

I head into the café/studio I have owned for two years for another busy day. I wear my apron and hand Riley his mini one and we get to work. Riley watches as I bake fresh muffins, singing all of his favourite Disney songs. As opening time approaches, a few of my casual staffers and chef show up, smothering Riley in all the attention he wants.

I head to the front, as my usual customers file in for the day and greet them.

After the morning craze, Riley stomps over to me and demands cuddles, which is code for a short nap. I rock him in my arms as he dozes off, ignoring the buzz of the café around him. I take orders while I balance a snoozing toddler in my other arm, everyone smiling warmly at the sight.

I watch as a tall blonde woman approaches the counter, an unfamiliar face among all of my customers who I've come to know so well. She smiles politely and orders a latte, asking me questions about Riley. I spot a huge diamond rock on her finger.

"When's the big day?"

She smiles shyly and glances at her hand.

"Not soon enough if you ask me but in 2 weeks, we're getting married in my fiancées childhood home—ah there he is"

As she points to her fiancée I feel a sense of dread at seeing the familiar green eyes. He can't mask his shock at seeing me and his fiancé notices. I try to find my voice and my thoughts but I can't. There are a million questions I want to ask him but a million reasons why I shouldn't. Riley stirs in my arms and I hug him tighter to me, this distracts him for a second.

"Do you guys know each other?" Asks his fiancée cryptically, glancing back and forth between her fiancé and I.

"Edward it's been a while" I say, masking my emotions in cold indifference.

He looked the same but older, more like a man than the teenager I remembered. His copper hair cut short and looking tamed, he wore a snug jumper and jeans, looking at me frazzled.

It was refreshing to see him so out of his element and resigned, unlike the last time we encountered each other.

"Bella"

His fiancée nudged him.

"Oh right this is my fiancée Tanya, Tanya this is Bella, she is also from Forks"

He avoided looking at me so I looked at his fiancée instead.

"What can I get you guys?"

"A slice of the pear and berry cheesecake please and two lattes" she answered sweetly, tugging on his arm as they went to sit on a nearby table.

I put the order through, and served the customers in line. I felt his gaze on me. I wasn't stupid I know that it looked to him like I had a kid and he was curious, that much I could tell. His fiancée seemed lovely and exactly the type of person suited for him, she belonged in his world and to him.

I was broken out of my thoughts when Emmett came into the store, hulking his way to me. He dropped a kiss to my forehead, as he always did and grabbed a still sleeping Riley from me.

Emmett noticed my expression and gave me a questioning gaze, I nodded my head and mouthed that everything was fine.

"Emmett can you take over? I've got to start prepping for lunch"

Yes I guess I was running away but I needed to be in the safety of my kitchen. I got working, ignoring everything around me. I failed to see Edward, who was now browsing through my café…

I was cursing the open plan layout of the café just about now.

"You named your café St Charles"

I stopped slicing the tomatoes, dropped the knife and stared into his green eyes.

"Did you have something to say Edward?"

He hesitated. He ran his hand through his hair like he used to, my teenager heart would beat mercilessly when he did so.

"No, maybe… I just wanted to apol-"

I felt hot tears prick at my eyes.

"No need to Edward, life goes on doesn't it?"

He stares at me for a few moments, he looks different yet the same as the last time I saw him. He looks like the same boy trapped in a mans body, still careless, haste and still unexpected.

"I'm getting married in forks you know on the 21st… would you come with your family?"

He seemed shocked by his own offer, his face paler than it usually was.

"It isn't too late to rsvp?"

I raised an eyebrow in question.

"Ofcourse not… just… I hope you can come to forks"

"I'd better get back to it Edward and so should you"

With that he nodded, walked away hand in hand with his fiancé. The café bell chimed to signal that he had left… seemed like I always watched him leave.

That night Rosalie knew that something was up with me. I barely ate the dinner she made and tried to make a run for home before she could corner me.

"Hold it there, Bella… tell me what's wrong?"

I avoided her gaze, I felt sick to my stomach thinking of the past I had avoided for so long. I trusted Rose with my life but I just never told her about Edward or Forks or anything because I couldn't. It didn't just hurt to talk about it, it hurt to remember.

"Bella, you know you've always been there for me. When I found out about being pregnant with Riley and thought my world was ending, you held my hand but you never let me hold yours Bella…"

I spoke to reject her but I knew she was right.

"You're loyal to a fault Bella, you even started this business with us to help us not because you needed us. You're my child's godmother because I can trust you with my life and my family… why won't you trust me with yours?"

Rose wasn't one to get over emotional but this was a boiling point for her. She was right, in the eight years we've been friends, I never told her a thing, never confided in her for anything but that was on me, not her.

"It hurts Rosalie, it has been eight years and yet some days when I think I can be happy I get paralysed by thoughts and memories. I can't move on, every time I remember my dad, my friends, and my mom I can't breathe. I saw an old friend today, he invited me to his wedding in Forks… I haven't been there in eight years. Logically I know that going there will not magically resolve everything, but maybe I can breathe a little better. Maybe I can forgive and move on with my life like everyone else has…"

Rose put her arm around me, half hugging me as we sat on the sofa while Emmett put Riley to sleep.

"So when are we going to Forks?"

And there was my best friend Rose for you.

She moved to sit across from me and crossed her arms.

"Look Bella, you're going. Go to the wedding, don't, I don't care I just think its time you go to your house and settle a few things. It will be a nice breather, besides we need a break from work right?"

I knew she was right but I knew that I had embarked on this journey alone when I left Forks and I needed to see it through alone.

"I know you want to support me and I love you for it but I need to do this alone and I want to do this alone".

PART 2 – Alice

The chaos of wedding preparation bought me to the flower market in Seattle early in the morning at 5am. Edward and Tanya's wedding would be decorated in baby's breath and roses, at the request of the bride. I was honoured to be helping out with their wedding, having not spent much time with them over the years as we lived states apart. This was my way of giving back to my brother, who always looked out for me and walked me down the aisle on my wedding day two years prior.

As I went into a nearby café after the market, I was pulled from my wedding planning by someone calling my name. I turned around to face Garrett, my highschool boyfriend who broke my heart. The irony of life seems to be thrusting people in my life lately, unwelcome ones included. Garrett looked the same as always, boyish and handsome, the type to drive me crazy in highschool before I met Jasper that is. He seemed shyer and more reserved than he used to be, as he stared at me averting his eyes.

"I thought that was you Alice, I didn't know you were in Seattle…"

"Hi Garrett yes its been a long time" my tone was clipped and unsure. I didn't know what to make of this encounter after so many years, he could've just walked by me yet he stopped me. I saw some people from highschool over the years, some smiled some didn't even acknowledge me and it was fine. Highschool was highschool even if at times we believed the confines of the school defined us, we've all grown up and moved beyond.

He seemed unsure of how to engage me, which seemed like a fair point given the circumstances and falling out after our breakup. The last time he had seen me was probably in the hospital, a memory I do not need to relive.

"I heard from my mom that you married a texan, I assumed you were living there", if it were anywhere but the small town of forks id be worried of stalkers but word always gets around there. I hadn't been back to Forks in years so naturally I knew nothing of the people there nor did I want to especially the person who told Garrett's mum about my life.

"Oh well that's not too wrong actually I'm just here a few weeks early to help with last minute wedding preps".

I considered not divulging the information on the wedding but the childish part of me wanted the people of forks to know and what better way to spread it.

"Edwards getting married to his college sweetheart actually"

Garretts face paled at the mention of Edward and a look of guilt flashed through his eyes, not dissimilar to the one before.

"Do you have a minute to sit down and talk", at my unsure expression he added that it was important and that I owed it to myself. We sat after ordering our coffees and I wondered what kind of spiral I got myself into. I hadn't spoken to anyone from forks in years, skilfully avoiding everyone whenever I visited, a big part of me didn't even understand why Edward was having his wedding there.

"Theres someone I'm in love with, her names Kate".

I stared at Garrett, wondering where he was going with this conversation.

"Not to sound rude but why should I care?" I could see that my bluntness hurt him, he remembered a very different Alice to the one I am now. He cleared his throat and continued.

"I feel undeserving of her after everything I've caused. I want to be able to love Kate with no guilt, but when I see her I just buckle and I can't live with myself at times. I've tried tracking down Bella to no avail, Edward wont listen and he told me to never tell you. He told me that I was to blame for your condition too and the best thing was to stay away… so tell me now Alice, if you want to know ill tell you everything but if you don't please walk away".

I felt the breath leave my lungs I hadn't uttered her name in years, hadn't heard anyone mention her for just as long. Trying to wrap my head around what Garrett said was baffling and giving me a headache.

"Hold on… what are you talking about?"

Garrett flexed his hands, I remembered his nervous tics and hated myself for it.

"Alice did you never question all that happened… never asked why Bella, your best friend she was practically your sister… why she left and why she never visited you… you had to have known she didn't return my feelings, she would never betray you… im sorry it was all me okay. I was so inlove with her, I didn't have the right to be and im sorry but she never loved me that's why I dated you. I knew I could never have her so I told myself to forget her, her happily ever after would be with Edward but I got jealous."

I forgot to breathe again… I had felt so wronged for so many years but I knew nothing and I didn't know who I hated more, my overprotective, stupid brother or my bestfriend who didn't tell me a thing.

"wait what do you mean about Edward and Bella being together?"

Garrett let out a resigned breathe, "I never deserved you and I know you don't care for me anymore, rightfully so but Alice how could you be so blind. How did you never see me hating Edward but how did you not see how inlove they were. They just tiptoed around each other stupidly but everyone saw it, even your da-…"

"Don't mention him Garrett if you don't want me to walk out right now"

"I'm sorry. I think its time you found out everything.."

"Okay Garrett but why now? Why did you wait this long to tell me"

"I thought you would eventually talk to Bella, I thought you would have the sense and I truthfully I didn't want you to hate me even more but mostly Edward… I've done enough damage on that end".

"just tell me… what really happened"

"After you… well after I forced myself on Bella, you walked in with Edward, you left and I had it out with him then I stormed off and he was just so angry, I didn't know he had seen Carlisle that same day. He ripped into Bella while she cried and pleaded with him but he just saw betrayal but it wasn't her Alice, it was all me and I knew Edward would walk in. I didn't know youd be with him but I was so crazy and stupid, then we got the call about you and then Edward just lost it. Bella waited for hours at the hospital, you weren't conscious and Edward wasn't human. His world had ended and your mum was a mess, she didn't even know anything and was so caught up in her grief. Bella tried to go into see you, she had another fight with Edward about it. Charlie died while she waited in the hospital for you. Your father and im sorry to say this is a dickhead, Carlisle told Bella he would have lived if she was with him. He died because he wasn't found soon enough, she walked home and found her father dead. The funeral was even worse. Edward didn't come. No one from your family came, you were out of the coma by then. I asked Edward to come but he told me to fuck right off, I told him about Charlie and he said he didn't care. Bella overheard because she still came to see you and then… she told Edward she would hate him until her last breathe because her father died alone and all because he wouldn't listen to her. She said he would never be happy in life because he didn't deserve it. It got ugly and then she left and never came back. She sold the house a few years ago without ever coming to town, I've searched everywhere for her but nothing.

"I think ive known Edward long enough to know he wouldn't have sought her out. Everything just got out of control. Edward didn't let me near you and I stopped trying because you were so hurt. Everyone was so hurt and it was because of me. I don't think ive slept well since that day, since the day Charlie died. He was so important to me Alice, he was the coolest person I knew and Bella just broke after that. She couldn't look at me, I grew up with her too. Charlie taught me how to fucken drive and I ruined his daughters life and yours. A part of me is afraid to find her or ever face her. She was like your sister but she was also my friend and I ruined her life. We all did in our own ways except you, you just gave up on her".

I felt my hands shaking, I couldn't handle all that I had learnt. I just stopped caring about everyone but myself, I had been that way my entire life but I never realised how self absorbed I was. I thought only I was betrayed, that only I was hurt and the reality was far from that. My bestfriend who I simply chose to forget, her life was turned upside down and was mine but all I cared about was me. I didn't even let myself think of her, I thought of her like I thought of Garrett, a hurdle from my past that I overcame. I could never overcome Bella, she was my bestfriend and she was abandoned by me. I thought I was so strong for being indifferent to her but I was avoiding the truth I knew deep down, that Bella would never have left me unless she was forced to and she was. She was torn to pieces and I felt guilt consume me as I thought of what became of my bestfriend. I always thought my brother was content, he was a doctor with a fiancée but truthfully I had never heard him say he was happy or even look it. Did he even love Tanya? Did he ever forgive himself? I knew the answer to all my questions and yet I am still afraid to face it. I'm afraid of what this means for my bestfriend who I thought left town with her tail between her legs when she left heartbroken and defeated, far worse than I ever was. I hadn't spoken to my father in years and she had buried hers, I still had a family with my mum and Edward but what of her… I would hate me if I was her and suddenly I couldn't stop the tears. I told Garrett to leave in-between my tears. I cried in the same spot for what felt like hours until Jasper called. He rushed into the café and I hugged him and sobbed like a child. I cried for my best friend, I cried for my own mistakes and most of all I cried because I didn't know how to fix anything. Jasper held me and wipes my tears; I hoped that Bella had someone to do the same for her knowing that she wouldn't because she was stubborn and so strong. So I cried more as I thought of her. Would my tears ever cease, did I deserve to stop crying.