A/N: Thank you for all the love and support. Love you all so much!

Special thank you to Mel Cee for betaing-she's fabulous! (all mistakes are my own)

This chapter is a doozy...

Song suggestions:

"Gunshot" by Lykke Li

"Heartless" by The Fray (Cover)

I don't own Twilight or the songs I suggest, just my plot;)

One week later

The past week had been quiet. Too quiet. News broke of a SEC investigation into Masen Point, and Ted and Carlisle were brought in for further questioning.

Edward expected Ted to practically break down his door or at least call. But nothing, not even a text from him or Liz.

Radio silence.

Edward didn't know whether to feel relieved or worried.

The only information Edward received was an update through Felix's connection at the SEC. The only groundbreaking piece of news was that Alistair was called in for questioning shortly after Ted. Everything else pertaining to the case had been strictly hush hush.

All Edward wanted was for justice to be serviced and Carlisle not to be implicated in Ted and Liz's illegal activities. There wasn't a whole lot he could have done to prevent Carlisle from being part of the investigation, but he hoped that the evidence he and his team had dug up would be enough to help clear Carlisle of any wrongdoing.

After his talk with Carlisle and Esme at the party, in the back of Edward's mind, he also worried about himself. Esme's warning about the lengths people would go to in order to protect their secrets ran through his thoughts. He wasn't naive to think that there would be no repercussions for the very public takedown of Ted. His adopted father was a lot of things, but most of all, he was a proud man. Having his son punch him in front of a crowd of people didn't seem like something he'd just brush off. Edward knew that Ted wasn't going to let sleeping dogs lie.

Bella stirred next to Edward, and he attempted to stop fidgeting. He didn't want to wake her again. Every night this past week, he lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to shut off his thoughts long enough to get a good night's rest. He glanced over at the clock on the nightstand, seeing it was barely four in the morning. He had barely shut his eyes before he was pulled from his sleep. It was rare for him to get more than a few hours, and he hadn't been sleeping well at all. Most nights, he tossed and turned. Even though he had his sleep aid, Bella, back, after the whole debacle at the Denalis', Edward couldn't help but let his mind wonder what could have been. Bella could have been adopted. She could have been happy. She could have had parents who chose her. Despite all her efforts to make herself undesirable, Carlisle and Esme saw through the facade. They wanted her.

When Edward came home and told Bella about Carlisle and Esme's intentions, she obviously was happy to have been wanted, but she just couldn't get past how evil Ted and Liz were. How they had taken yet another thing from her, and for what? Greed? Money? Power? How did her happiness change anything for them? Was it simply that they wanted everyone else to be miserable? Bella was saddened that they'd directed so much hatred toward her simply because of circumstances beyond her control. It wasn't like she chose to grow up being poor. There was a silver lining in this all, and she was glad that Edward finally got to read her letter. It had been hard at the time for her to write it, but she felt it was important to get off her chest. Even though things had changed in the last five years, she would never take those words back.

Edward took a deep breath, thinking of the letter he read countless times since leaving the anniversary party. He'd practically memorized it by this point.

Dear Edward,

I think this is the longest we haven't spoken. Being without you kills me. I want you to know that first and foremost. But I think after everything that has transpired, we need to take some time to find ourselves.

Growing up in chaos and constant madness, we never had a chance to become our own people, to learn what we liked about ourselves, or even how to have a functional relationship with anyone else.

Well at least I know I never had that chance. It seems like you might be faring better than me in that regard…

Leaving you never crossed my mind as what would be necessary, but I'm starting to see that I've never made choices for myself. It was always about us. Or you. I would always put myself last because maybe that's what I thought I deserved. But you chose for yourself without considering me, and that really hurt.

Enjoy Japan. Despite what you may think, I am happy for you. I hope that we can talk when you get back and maybe start rebuilding a friendship. I miss my best friend.

I'm sorry I tossed the locket on the floor. I know how excited you were for me to open it after the party. You said you hoped the engraving would be my favorite gift yet. I don't know what you meant by that, but I'm appreciative of the gesture nonetheless.

Please know I'm proud of you. I just need to choose myself now, so I can be proud of myself too.

Do you remember the quote from the Velveteen Rabbit quote that I love:

"I'm afraid," said Rabbit.

"What are you afraid of?" asked Bear.

"I don't know," replied Rabbit. "I just am."

"Then, I will sit with you until you're not afraid anymore," said Bear. "We will face it together."

Well, the truth was, I am afraid, but I don't think we can face what I'm afraid of together, Edward. Not when the very thing I'm afraid of is you, or rather who you're becoming.

I have to face this alone. One day soon, I hope we can face things together again.

I'll always love you. Even if I don't like you right now.

Love,

Bella

While their time apart killed them both, Edward realized after reading Bella's letter, the separation might have done them both some good.

They needed the distance to grow into the people they were today. Bella had now built a life outside of Edward, and he couldn't be more proud. It hadn't always been that way.

Bella was right in the fact that she never thought about herself. Her entire life had been about caring for others and their needs. She focused her whole life around Edward, to the point of sabotaging her chances at a family.

He winced at the thought. Getting past all that they had gone through wasn't going to be as easy as passionate rain shower reunions or endless hours curled up under the covers together. They both knew they had hard work to do and a lot of things to discuss. Edward really wanted to broach the idea of therapy with Bella, both separately and as a couple. He figured all it could do was strengthen them.

Edward turned to face away from Bella once more and longed for sleep to take him.

He had just shut his eyes when next thing he knew, he was being woken by a ringing phone.

Bella shuffled in her blanket cocoon, and she tried to release her arms. Edward opened one eye to watch the show, biting back a laugh. He glanced over at the clock—eight in the morning. Three hours of sleep wasn't too bad for him.

"It isn't funny!" she scolded as he smirked at her.

"Hello," she muttered as she blindly answered the phone.

The person on the other line said something Edward couldn't quite make out and Bella replied quickly. "Fine, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Bella listened to the other person on the phone, sitting up and pulling the blanket across her chest. "Now you're getting greedy. Twenty-five minutes, Charlotte."

Charlotte. Charlie.

Edward had wondered if she would ever come around and call them again.

He looked at Bella questioningly as she grumbled a goodbye to their foster sister.

"She's in the city and wants to meet me. We're going to get bagels and head back here to 'irritate' you the rest of the day. Her words not mine," Bella explained, stretching as she stood up from the bed. "And I was told to hurry since she just got off the train and was going to start walking." Bella laughed, thinking of how demanding Charlie was.

Her bare back exposed, Edward leaned over and ran a hand down her spine. "She hasn't called or text for weeks and now she expects breakfast and to test my patience?" Edward rolled his eyes, as he tried to grab Bella to pull her back in bed.

"Does it surprise you? Charlie is Charlie. I can't wait to hear her excuses." Bella laughed, pulling on one of Edward's hoodies.

Edward ogled her as she adjusted the sweater. "What?" she whispered at him, looking down as she pulled on her jeans. Did she look bad or something?

"Nothing. You just look good in my clothes." He smirked, folding his hands behind his head, leaning back to enjoy the view. "Are you sure you don't have an extra ten minutes?" he teased.

Bella gave him the side eye. "Thank you, but you must be joking. If I'm not on the move in five minutes, that girl will burst in here and no doubt will be traumatized with the sounds that come out of this room."

"True. You are pretty loud," Edward agreed, bashfully nodding.

Bella threw a pillow at his head. Edward's phone rang, and as he leaned over to check the display, he recognized the number as Ted and Liz's house number. Took him long enough. This should be interesting.

"Hello." Edward treaded lightly, waiting for the yelling to begin. Bella leaned against the dresser, curious as to who else was calling this early. Probably Emmett, she said to herself.

Instead of his adopted father screaming profanities at him, Edward was met with Renata's hushed whisper. "Mr. Edward, I'm so sorry."

"Renata, what are you sorry about?" Edward questioned, sitting up in bed.

Bella took a seat in front of him on top of the blanket, wearing a puzzled look on her face.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but Ms. Liz passed away last night. Mr. Ted said not to call but I couldn't do that. I had to tell you. It's only right," she said, her voice coming out garbled. He figured her hand must have been covering the phone, trying to keep the conversation quiet.

"Thank you for telling me. Take care of yourself," Edward said, sincerely. He was stunned. Taking a deep breath, he sat the phone down in front of him.

Staring at it for a moment, Bella broke Edward out of his reverie. "Edward?" she called, waving her hand in front of his face.

Edward's eyes met her wide brown ones, and he softened. "Liz died late last night." He exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Silence filled the room. Bella gulped but refused to move despite needing to meet Charlie.

"Are you okay?" she asked, dumbly, playing with the threads of the blankets. Death was never something she got used to. Not her parents. Not Sam. Not Billy.

Edward nodded solemnly. "Yes, it's been a long time coming, and I've come to terms with it." He grabbed her hand in his. "After what they stole from you, I can't bring myself to feel sorry," he stated, earnestly.

Bella shook her head, furiously. "Don't talk like that. She was still a mother figure to you. Please don't compartmentalize your grief for me." She looked down, biting her lip.

"Bella, look at me," he said and her eyes raised to meet his. "Nobody is as important to me as you. Nobody. I can't get past any of it. I won't. It's true she may have been something to me in the past. Now she is just a stranger," Edward confessed, giving her a kiss on the lips.

She leaned in farther, trying to deepen the kiss, but they were interrupted by the incessant buzzing of her phone. With a sigh, she pulled back and looked down at the caller ID. "Charlie," she announced to Edward. "I better go. I'll see you in a little bit." She kissed him once more on the lips before standing and walking to the elevator.

"I love you, baby," he called out to the foyer as she slipped on her shoes.

"Love you more."

"Impossible," he whispered to the empty room.

"Where are you?" Bella answered Charlie's fifth phone call since leaving the apartment. "Already at the bagel shop. What did you do, run, Charlotte?" She shook her head and rolled her eyes, adjusting her bag over her shoulder. "Okay, I'll be right here."

That girl really wanted a free breakfast, Bella laughed to herself, walking faster in the direction of the bagel shop. She turned the corner and was about to cross the street when she heard her name being called. "Bella."

Bella spun around to find Charlotte standing outside the bagel shop. Her hair was wavy, and she was wearing ripped jeans and a sweatshirt. Bella was stunned to see Charlie wearing something more appropriate for a change.

"If it isn't Little Miss Charlotte," Bella admonished as she engulfed Charlotte in a big hug. Charlie relished in Bella's presence. Edward and Bella were always her refuge in any storm. She couldn't be happier for them both now that her wish of them being back together came true.

Bella pulled away to look at her foster sister. "Where have you been? Edward's been worried sick about you after that last visit. I have too," Bella scolded, narrowing her eyes at the teenage girl before her. Charlie looked down nervously. Bella didn't want to make her uncomfortable so she joked, "You couldn't even text us back after our gorgeous selfie. We're back together by the way."

"Oh, Bella, I knew you and Lover Boy couldn't stay away from each other for too long," Charlie gloated, avoiding any questions directed toward her and her noticeable absence. "So let's get bagels. Can I get two? You know Edward loves those French toast ones, right? I mean, how can he eat that? It's way too sweet."

Charlie started for the door, about to enter the bagel place, but Bella stopped her by grabbing her hand.

"No, no, no, missy. You aren't getting out of this that easily," Bella reprimanded, giving Charlie a no-nonsense look.

Charlie winced, not from Bella's grip, but at the conversation she knew she would have to have eventually with her favorite couple. Charlie bit her lip and looked down.

After a moment, she glanced up at Bella through her eyelashes, similar to what she did when she was a little kid and really wanted something. "Can we at least get the bagels first?" Charlotte pleaded, as Bella let go of her hand.

Bella noticed Charlie's jumpy behavior, and she certainly didn't want her to run off, so she nodded. Getting her back to the apartment was her best bet of prying any information out of the stubborn girl.

They entered the bagel shop, and Charlie laughed. Bella looked at her and asked, "What's so funny?"

"Did you guys have lots of makeup sex?" Charlie giggled uncontrollably, and the whole bagel shop looked at the pair. "Is that what took you so long?"

"Charlotte!" Bella spat, swatting Charlie's arm.

"What?" Charlie said, innocently as she jutted out her bottom lip.

Bella groaned, shaking her head, and went to the counter to place their order.

Edward rose out of bed and ran his fingers through his hair. It was always wild, but he could tell it was also a bit matted. Better shower before Charlie complained about his untidiness.

Bella was too kind to comment on stuff like that, but Charlie never failed to seize any opportunity she had to torment him.

He started the shower, filling Embry's food bowl while the water came to the proper temperature.

Edward quickly showered, taking time to wash his hair. He got out, tying a towel around his waist and using another one to dry his hair. As he hung the towel on the rack, he hoped Bella would get him one of the specialty French toast bagels. He loved those with extra powdered sugar.

Charlie reaching out and remembering her foster siblings existed was a much-needed distraction from the chaos of everything happening at Masen Point and with Edward's adopted parents.

In fact, Charlotte's silliness was exactly what the pair needed.

Edward did wonder why she suddenly reached out, but he chalked it up to teenage mood swings. He was certain they would hear an earful of whatever drama was going on in her neck of the woods. Once Charlie got talking, she never shut up.

Edward exited his bathroom, towel around his waist. Embry lay on the rumpled sheets, resting. Not wanting to disturb him, Edward decided that making the bed would have to wait.

Walking over to his walk-in closet, Edward looked around and picked out casual clothes. Seeing his business wear, all neatly lined up, he toyed with the idea of donating it. He dismissed the idea since he reasoned that he may need the clothes for future job interviews. If he wasn't blackballed from every company from here to California that was.

One day at a time, he reminded himself. Edward turned in the closet to see the section that held Bella's clothes. It was just a few staple pieces, but it made Edward's heart warm when she agreed to leave a few things at his apartment.

Wherever she was would always be his home.

It made him emotional to think he had almost lost this. Lucky bastard. He shook his head.

Once dressed in dark blue jeans and a white t-shirt, he left the room and closed his bedroom door behind him, hoping to give Embry a fair chance to rest. He just knew Charlie would waltz in like she owned the place and any peace and quiet would come to an end.

Thinking of Bella and their future reminded him of something he had been wanting to get out of his safe since they'd reunited.

He opened his office door and then proceeded to punch in the code to his wall safe. Once the code was entered, Edward lifted the bar to open the safe. He shuffled the random things the safe housed: money, important documents, a few gold bars Ted gave him as a gift, cufflinks, but the most priceless item in there was Bella's locket.

The locket he gave her as a present all those years ago.

The very same locket, he'd intended on having Bella open to read the inscription on her eighteenth birthday. The inscription he had hoped would be the best part of the gift. Except she never got to see it because everything fell apart before she could.

Edward took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the necklace on his palm. He couldn't go back, only forward. This was their fresh start. A time for new beginnings.

He needed to tell her he kept it after all this time. He needed to put it back where it belonged.

Hopefully the memories attached to the time period he originally gave it to her wouldn't cloud the meaning behind it.

The elevator dinged and Edward heard a noise followed by movement in the foyer. Bella and Charlie must have been back with the bagels. He was filled with a mix of excitement and resignation—excitement to see and touch Bella again; resignation that his foster sister would be merciless in her teasing. He listened to the shuffling and realized that the footsteps sounded louder than he expected, the movements much less graceful.

Making his way out of the office, he peered around the corner but didn't see anyone. He wasn't far enough into the hall to get a clear view of the elevator doors, so Edward attempted to turn the corner. He looked to the side and noticed his bedroom door was still closed.

Before he could step in that direction, a gunshot rang out, a loud bang echoing through the apartment as bits of the ceiling rained down.

Startled by the sound, Edward spun around, coming face to face with the intruder. As soon as he did, a hard body slammed into him, as the guy charged at him, trying to force him back and shove his way into Edward's office.

His first thought was that he needed to ensure Bella and Charlie weren't in the apartment, and god forbid, hurt, so Edward tried to get a look as the guy kept shoving. He couldn't give a shit about the money or crap in the safe. He'd gladly turn it all over if it meant that his girl was alive and unharmed.

His attacker halted Edward's movements, hitting him hard in the abdomen with his elbow, and Edward coughed from the blows. He had no choice but to stumble backwards, letting the assailant into the room. Spinning around, he positioned himself in front of the door, blocking his exit.

Harsh words were uttered into the air, the would-be robber waving his gun menacingly. Another gunshot exploded in the office, the sound deafening. Edward couldn't register anything that was being said as pain ripped through his chest, bright red staining the white of his t-shirt as his legs started to give out.

He stumbled once more, this time falling to the ground into a crumpled heap. His ears rung, sounds coming in and out, his vision growing unfocused. Edward couldn't be certain, but he thought there may have been another gunshot, fire clawing its way through his body. He gazed up and saw the intruder step over his prone body as he passed him on the floor.

Edward tried to regain his strength and stand.

He couldn't move—he felt paralyzed.

He tried again, willing his body to get up. To do something. To check if there was anyone else home. To call for help, or to warn the girls to stay away.

Nothing worked. Everything felt heavy. His vision blurred more, everything turning dark as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

He gasped for air, willing his lungs to fill, but the pain in his chest was too much. He couldn't breathe deeply no matter how much he tried. He coughed, and Edward thought liquid pooled in his throat, but he couldn't be sure.

Bella.

Was she okay? She had to be okay.

He tried moving once more, but had no luck.

He tried wiggling his fingers to no avail. Edward could no longer feel the locket he had been holding onto for dear life. He was starting to lose all feeling, and he knew it wouldn't be long before everything went black.

Unbeknownst to Edward, the locket he was clutching had fallen out of his hand and broken open.

When it cracked open, it revealed the inscription inside: "Marry Me. Make us real."

A/N: *hides* Reminder: HEA all the way... Let me know your predictions, I love to hear them!