Moving On

(How Bella Got Her Groove)

Chapter 11

Sunshine

~o0o~

Chapter 11

Sunshine

Previously:

"Alright, Conner, I'll call him. I doubt I'll wake him up. Like Bella, he likes to get up early on Sunday mornings," Rose said before she disconnected the call.

"Well, I'll be damned," Rose sighed to Emmett.

~o0o~

"What's up, Rosie, and who was that on the phone?" Emmett asked sleepily.

"That, my Darlin', was Conner Swan, err Black. He finally seems to have gotten his head out of his ass and realizes what he's done to Bella." Rosalie smiled. "He wanted Edward's phone number, and then changed his mind and asked me to call Edward and tell him what he said, and to also please call Bella." Rosalie hesitated a moment before continuing, "I think Bella must have had some kind of break down. Conner sounded worried."

"Then by all means, call Edward, Rosalie," Emmett said pragmatically.

"Yeah, that's easy for you to say," Rose mumbled as she searched through her contact list for Edward's phone number. When she'd located it, she took a deep breath before pressing the send button.

The phone rang twice before Edward picked up. "Hello? Rose? What's wrong?" Edward asked.

"Hey, Edward. Yeah, it's Rosalie. I hope I'm not waking you." Rose paused to listen before she continued. "I have some news and a strange request from Conner of all people." Rose quieted, listening again. "He said to tell you he's sorry for what has happened and that you need to call Bella, that it's important." She listened again. "Yes, that's all he said. I think Bella must have had a breakdown and confessed to him how deep her feelings for you still are. He sounded really worried, Edward. Please give Bella a call, and then call me back and let me know what's going on. Okay?" Rosalie smiled brightly. "Yeah. Honest to God, Edward. He was worried that you'd lost interest because of his shit. You call her. I'll be waiting to hear back." Rose disconnected the call, put the phone on the nightstand, and then attacked Emmett with kisses.

~o0o~

Conner found himself pacing back and forth, waiting for the phone to ring. When it finally rang, it seemed as if hours had passed. The display showed it was Edward Cullen calling. Taking a very deep, calming breath, Conner answered the call. "Hello, Edward, this is Conner."

"Hello, Conner. Rosalie said I should call Bella. She thought Bella might have had a break down? If that's true, I suspect you and I are both responsible for it," Edward said stiffly.

"Yes, but it's not your fault Edward, unless you count my mother being in love with you." He paused and sighed. "It's all on me. I was a spoiled little boy who-" Conner let out another deep sigh "-didn't want his mommy to be happy with anyone but him. I'm so sorry, Edward. I can't emphasize that enough. I'm hoping we can fix this." Conner finally got it all out and waited for Edward to respond.

"Yes, you were being very selfish Conner, but I do understand." Edward paused. "I accept your apology. I only want what's best for Bella. If never being with her again is best, I won't like it, but I'll do it. I'm hoping that won't be the case. Now, let me talk to Bella, please."

Conner nodded as if Edward was standing before him and walked down the hall to his mother's bedroom door. He knocked on it. "Mom, there's a phone call for you. It's Edward..."

~o0o~

Bella's eyes were red and swollen. She had a little snot starting to trickle from her nose and her voice broke when she said, "Who?"

Conner smiled at his mother. Seeing her heartbreak fully exposed to him as he'd not seen it before. "Edward, Mama. And I'm sorry for being such an ass. Now talk to the man you love, and we'll talk later."

Bella took the phone away from Conner and watched him with her mouth open as he left her bedroom, closing the door.

"Hello, Edward," Bella said through her sniffle, cough, "Edward."

~o0o~

Thirty minutes later, and only after Bella washed her face, Bella was back out on the screened in porch holding another cup of coffee, watching her son walk back and forth from one side of the backyard to the other.

She stood there for a long time waiting for Conner to see her. When he finally realized she was standing there watching him, he stopped his pacing and headed toward her.

Bella turned and walked back to the wicker table and chairs and then waited for him to catch up with her. She'd just placed her very hot cup of coffee on the table when Conner reached for her, pulling her into an almost back-breaking and rib-crushing embrace. "Mama, I'm so sorry. What can I do to make this whole mess right with you-" he paused "-and Edward?"

"You're making a good start, Sunshine. A very good start." Bella smiled up at her son with love and pride in her eyes. She then pushed him back and smiled brightly into his eyes. The eyes she'd fallen in love with instantly the day he was born. "You're still and always will be first in my heart."

"Mama, I don't deserve you." Conner stepped back and seated himself in one of the chairs as his mother did the same.

Bella laughed a little. "Call it Karma, Sunshine." She took a sip of her coffee and shaking her head a little as though she was trying to clear her mind. "So, what changed your mind?"

"To be honest, you reacting the way you did this morning. It hit me like a ton of bricks." He swallowed. "What if you'd reacted to my telling you about Sofia the way I had when I found out about Edward?" He paused, sniffling. "I would have been devastated." He ran both his hands through his hair. "I would have hated you for not understanding and judging her because she's from a different country. I put myself in your shoes the night I made that awful ultimatum. I thought about how childish I'd been, how deeply hurt you looked..." Conner began crying. "Mama! I'm so, so, so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Bella stood up and went to stand in front of Conner. He pulled her to him and put his arms around her waist and clung to her for the longest time, crying. He kept saying over and over, "Mama, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

After what must have felt like an eternity to Conner, Bella finally said, "I forgive you, Sunshine."

~o0o~